Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

July 2021 (Part – II)

Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440 Email: [email protected] Contents

Polity and Governance...... 1 z Provisions of 97th Amendment Struck Down: SC...... 1 z Challenge to Restitution of Conjugal Rights...... 3 z Plea Challenges Sedition Law...... 4 z No Parliamentary Immunity for Vandalism: SC...... 6 z Right to be Forgotten...... 7 z Secrecy of Vote...... 8 z Parliament Sessions...... 9 z Adjournment Motion...... 10 z Judicial Appointments to High Courts ...... 11 z Surveillance Laws in India and Privacy...... 12 z Creamy Layer: OBC...... 13 z Director of Inquiry for Lokpal...... 14 z Menace of Manual Scavenging...... 15 z NEET’s All India Quota...... 16 z Emigration Bill 2021...... 17 z Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India...... 18 z Women’s Reservation Bill...... 20 z New Commission for Air Quality Management...... 21 z Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021...... 21

Economic Scenario...... 24 z Reforms Based and Results Linked Scheme: DISCOMs...... 24 z Credit Growth for MSMEs...... 25 z Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021...... 26 z AERA Amendment Bill, 2021...... 27 z Non-Bank PSPs to Join Centralised Payment System...... 28 z DICGC Bill, 2021...... 29 z UN’s Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2021...... 31 z Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment Bill), 2021...... 32 z World Economic Outlook: IMF...... 33 z Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021...... 34 z SLDE and GHG Calculator...... 35 z Promoting Digital Banking...... 36 z New Facilities Under Strategic Petroleum Reserves...... 37 z Tackling the Menace of Black Money...... 38 z Suspension of FCRA Certificate...... 39 z Periodic Labour Force Survey 2019-20...... 41 z Investment Climate in India...... 42 z RBI to Introduce Digital Currency...... 44 z Special Economic Zones...... 45 z Subsidy Scheme to Boost Merchant Ships...... 46 z Amendment in IBBI Regulations 2016...... 47 z Stand Up India Scheme...... 48 z Indian Labour Conference ...... 49 z External Benchmarks Lending Rate...... 50 z Foreign Card Payment Network Companies Barred: RBI...... 52 z India’s Textile Sector...... 53 z 30 Years of Economic Liberalisation...... 54

International Relations...... 56 z SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting...... 56 z Joint Actions in Afghanistan: China-Pakistan...... 57 z Nord Stream 2 Pipeline...... 58 z China-led South Asian Initiative...... 59 z Protests in Cuba...... 60 z Violence in South Africa...... 61 z G7’s Build Back Better World Initiative...... 63

Science and Technology...... 65 z GRB 200826A: Gamma-Ray Burst...... 65 z Monkeypox...... 67 z Near-Surface Shear Layer of the Sun...... 67 z Moon-Forming Regions Around Exoplanets...... 68 z Antimicrobial Resistance...... 69 z Bird Flu: Avian Influenza...... 70 z Internet Through High Altitude Balloons...... 71 z NASA’s New Spacecraft: NEA Scout...... 73 z Moon’s Wobble Effect...... 74 z Pegasus Spyware...... 75 z Hubble Space Telescope...... 76 z Nauka Module of Russia ...... 78

Environment and Ecology...... 79 z Sutlej River Pollution...... 79 z International Tiger Day...... 80 z Gross Environment Product (GEP)...... 81 z G20 Energy and Climate Meet...... 82 z Earth Overshoot Day, 2021...... 84 z Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against Ban On Firecrackers ...... 85 z Genome of Salt-secreting Mangrove Species Decoded...... 86 z New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency...... 87 z Changing Landscape of Alps: Europe...... 89 z Roadmap for India’s Offshore Wind Energy...... 90 z New Gecko Species: Odisha...... 91 z Amazon Forests: No Longer Carbon Sinks...... 91 z India’s Forest Cover & Wasteland ...... 92

History...... 95 z Chandra Shekahr Azad...... 95 z Tipu Sultan...... 95 Geography...... 97 z Cloudbursts...... 97 z Events of Extreme Weather ...... 98 z Landslide and Flash Floods...... 99

Social Issues...... 101 z Kapu Community Reservation...... 101 z SMILE Scheme...... 102 z Severe Acute Malnutrition in India...... 103 z Garib Nawaz Employment Scheme...... 104 z Operation Blue Freedom: Team CLAW ...... 105 z New Initiatives for Education Sector...... 106 z Social Audit of Social Sector Schemes...... 107 z Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, 2021...... 108 z Pneumonia...... 109 z Kendu Leaf...... 110 z I-STEM Enters Phase-II...... 111 z Dying Declaration...... 112 z Extension to OBC Sub-Categorisation Commission...... 113 z Fighting Drug Menace...... 114 z National Health Mission...... 115 z India Inequality Report 2021: Oxfam...... 117 z Fit for 55 Package: EU...... 119

Art & Culture...... 121 z Kanjeevaram Silk Sari: Tamil Nadu...... 121 z India’s 40th World Heritage Site: Dholavira...... 122 z India’s 39th World Heritage Site: Ramappa Temple...... 123 z Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day...... 124

Security...... 126 z Exercise Cutlass Express ...... 126 z Akash-NG & MPATGM: DRDO...... 126 z National Security Council...... 127 z Exercise INDRA-21...... 128

Miscellaneous...... 129 z World Youth Skills Day...... 129 z UNESCO Delists Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status...... 129 z The Gaon Buras...... 130 z Dragon Fruit...... 131 z Monkey B Virus...... 132 z Kargil Vijay Diwas...... 132 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights z Provisions of 97th Amendment Struck Down: SC z Creamy Layer: OBC z Challenge to Restitution of Conjugal Rights z Director of Inquiry for Lokpal z Plea Challenges Sedition Law z Menace of Manual Scavenging z No Parliamentary Immunity for Vandalism: SC z NEET’s All India Quota z Right to be Forgotten z Emigration Bill 2021 z Secrecy of Vote z Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India z Parliament Sessions z Women’s Reservation Bill z Adjournment Motion z New Commission for Air Quality Management z Judicial Appointments to High Courts z Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 z Surveillance Laws in India and Privacy

Provisions of Co-operatives ¾ According to the International Labour Organisation 97th Amendment (ILO), a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common Struck Down: SC economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled Why in News enterprise. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld a 2013 ¾ There are many types of cooperatives such as judgment of the Gujarat High Court and struck down Consumer Cooperative Society, Producer Cooperative certain provisions of the Constitution (97th Amendment) Society, Credit Cooperative Society, Housing Act, 2011. Cooperative Society and Marketing Cooperative ¾ It gave a major boost for federalism as the Society. 97th Amendment shrank the exclusive authority ¾ The United Nations General Assembly had of States over its co-operative societies, a declared the year 2012 as the International Year sector considered as a massive contributor to the of Cooperatives. economy. ¾ India is an agricultural country and laid the foundation of World’s biggest cooperative movement in the Key Points world. ¾ Issue: € Recently, a separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ € Part IXB, introduced into the Constitution through has been created by the Central Government the 97th Amendment, dictated the terms for to give a new push to the cooperative move- running co-operative societies. ment. € The provisions in the Amendment, passed € It went to the extent of determining the number by Parliament without getting them ratified of directors a society should have or their length of by State legislatures as required by the tenure and even the necessary expertise required Constitution. to become a member of the society.

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Other Major Provisions of the 97th Amendment was an exclusive state subject (co-operative societies). ¾ The word “cooperatives” was added after “unions and associations” inArticle 19(1)(c) under Part III „ Under Article 368(2),Parliament can amend of the Constitution. This enables all the citizens the Constitution by passing a Bill with a to form cooperatives by giving it the status of a special majority. fundamental right of citizens. z Since such ratification was not done in the th ¾ A new Article 43B was added in the Directive case of the 97 amendment, it was liable to Principles of State Policy (Part IV) regarding the be struck down. “promotion of cooperative societies”. € Upheld the Validity of Provisions related to Multi State Cooperative Societies: ¾ Central Government’s Argument: z It did not strike down the portions of Part IXB € It justified that the government was injecting of the Amendment concerning ‘Multi State ‘professionalism’ and autonomy into the functioning Co-operative Societies (MSCS)’ due to the lack of the societies. of ratification. € Lack of accountability by the members has led to z When it comes to MSCS with objects not confined poor services and low productivity. to one State, the legislative power would be € Even elections are not held on time. Co-operatives that of the Union of India which is contained need to run on well-established democratic in Entry 44 List I (Union List). principles. Lists to Differentiate Legislative Powers ¾ SC’s Ruling: ¾ There are three Lists which provide for distribution € Exclusive Legislation of States: of legislative powers (under 7th Schedule to the z The constitution has been described as quasi- Constitution): federal in that, so far as legislative powers are € Union List (List I) - It contains 98 subjects concerned, though there is a tilt in favour of (originally 97) and comprises the subjects which given the the Centre vis-à-vis the States federal are of national importance and admit of uniform supremacy principle. laws for the whole of the country. „ Quasi-federalism means an intermediate z Only the Union Parliament can legislate with form of state between a unitary state and respect to these matters e.g. Defence, Foreign a federation. Affairs, Banking, Currency, Union Taxes, etc. z However, within their own sphere, the States € State List (List II) - It contains 59 subjects have exclusive power to legislate on topics (originally 66) and comprises subjects of local reserved exclusively to them. or State interest. z Part IX B, which consists of Articles 243ZH z It lies within the legislative competence of to 243ZT, has “significantly and substantially the State Legislatures, viz. Public Order and impacted” State legislatures’ “exclusive Police, Health, Agriculture, etc. legislative power” over its co-operative sector under Entry 32 of the State List. € Concurrent List (List III) - It contains 52 subjects (Originally 47) with respect to which; both z The court pointed out how Article 243ZI makes Union Parliament and the State Legislature have it clear that a State may only make law on the concurrent power of legislation. The Concurrent incorporation, regulation and winding up of List (not found in any federal Constitution) was a society subject to the provisions of Part IXB to serve as a device to avoid excessive rigidity of the 97th Amendment. to a two-fold distribution. € Not Ratified by the States: z It is a ‘twilight zone’, as for not so important th z It held that the 97 Constitutional Amendment matters, the States can take initiative, while required ratification by at least one-half of the for the important matters, the Parliament state legislatures as per Article 368(2) of the can do so. Constitution, since it dealt with an entry which

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z It is declared that Part IXB of the Constitution is z When either the husband or the wife has, operative only insofar as it concerns multi-State without reasonable excuse, withdrawn from cooperative societies both within the various the society of the other, the aggrieved party States and in the Union Territories. may apply by petition to the district court. z For restitution of conjugal rights and the court, Challenge to on being satisfied of the truth of the statements made in such a petition and that there is no Restitution of Conjugal Rights legal ground why the application should not be granted, may decree restitution of conjugal Why in News rights accordingly. The Supreme Court (SC) is going to hear a fresh ¾ Reason for Challenging the Law: challenge to the provision allowing restitution (recovery) € Violation of Rights: of conjugal rights under Hindu personal laws (Hindu z The law is being challenged now on the main Marriage act 1955). grounds that it violates the fundamental right Key Points to privacy. z In 2019, a nine-judge Bench of the SC recognised ¾ Conjugal Rights: the right to privacy as a fundamental right. € Conjugal rights are rights created by marriage, „ The right to privacy is protected as an i.e. the right of the husband or the wife to the intrinsic part of the right to life and personal society of the other spouse. liberty under Article 21 and as a part of € The law recognises these rights— both in personal the freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the laws dealing with marriage, divorce etc, and in Constitution. criminal law requiring payment of maintenance and alimony to a spouse. z The 2019 judgement has set the stage for potential challenges to several laws such as € Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act recognises one aspect of conjugal rights — the right to consortium criminalisation ofhomosexuality , marital rape, and protects it by allowing a spouse to move court restitution of conjugal rights, the two-finger to enforce the right. test in rape investigations. € The concept of restitution of conjugal rights z The plea argues that a court-mandated restitution is codified in Hindu personal law now, but has of conjugal rights amounted to a “coercive act” colonial origins. on the part of the state, which violates one’s z Originating from Jewish law, the provision for sexual and decisional autonomy, and right to restitution of conjugal rights reached India privacy and dignity. and other common law countries through € Biased Against Women: British Rule. z Although the law is gender-neutral since it allows z The British law treated wives as their husband’s both wife and husband to seek restitution of personal possession, hence they were not conjugal rights, the provision disproportionately allowed to leave their husbands. affects women. € Similar provisions exist in Muslim personal law z Women are often called back to marital homes as well as the Divorce Act, 1869, which governs under the provision, and given that marital Christian family law. rape is not a crime, leaves them susceptible z Incidentally, in 1970, the U.K repealed the law to such coerced cohabitation. on restitution of conjugal rights. z It is also argued whether the state can have ¾ Challenged Provision: such a compelling interest in protecting the € Section 9of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, which institution of marriage that it allows a legislation deals with restitution of conjugal rights, reads: to enforce cohabitation of spouses.

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€ Not in Consonance with SC Judgements: z In the recent judgement of Joseph Shine v Union Plea of India 2019, the SC has put great emphasis Challenges Sedition Law on the right to privacy and bodily autonomy of married women, stating that marriage Why in News does not take away their sexual freedom nor choice. Recently, a petition was filed in the Supreme court , that seeks a relook into the z If everybody is entitled to their bodily autonomy, (SC) Sedition Law. how can a court choice, and right to privacy, Key Points mandate two adults to cohabit if one of them does not wish to do so. ¾ From Petitioner: „ How can courts preach autonomy of the body € The nearly-60-year old judgment helped sedition and then turn around and decree otherwise. to survive in Indian Penal Code. € Misuse of the Provision: € The 1962 judgment in the KedarNath case, which upheld Section 124A (sedition), a relic of the colonial z Another pertinent matter to take into consid- legacy, was given at a time when doctrines such eration is the misuse of this provision as a as ‘chilling effect’ (Deterring effect resulting from shield against divorce proceedings and alimony restrictive law) on free speechwere unheard of. payments. It was delivered at a time when scope and inter- z Often an aggrieved spouse files for divorce relationship of fundamental rights were rather from their place of residence and their spouse restrictive. retaliates by filing for a decree of restitution z In the Kedar Nath judgment, the court in their place of residence. had reasoned that without Section 124A, ¾ Previous Judgements: the State would be in jeopardy if the govern- € In 1984, the SC had upheld Section 9 of the Hindu ment was subverted. It, however, said Marriage Act in the case of Saroj Rani v Sudarshan that Section 124A would apply only to Kumar Chadha, holding that the provision serves expressions that either intended to or had the a social purpose as an aid to the prevention of tendency to cause violence were punishable break-up of marriage. as ‘sedition’. € In 1983, a single-judge bench of the Andhra ¾ Court’s Ruling: Pradesh High Court had for the first time struck € It sends a strong message to the government that down the provision in the case of T Sareetha v sedition is being misused by the authorities to T Venkatasubbaiah and declared it null and trample upon citizens’ fundamental rights of free void. speech and liberty. z It cited the right to privacy among other z SC made it clear that the court is sensitive to the reasons. The court also held that in “a matter so public demand to judicially review the manner intimately concerned the wife or the husband in which law enforcement authorities are using the parties are betterleft alone without state the sedition law to control free speech and send interference”. journalists, activists and dissenters to jail, and z The court had, most importantly, also recognised keep them there. that compelling “sexual cohabitation” would € Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code may have be of “grave consequences for women”. passed its time. € However, in the same year, a single-judge Bench of € The Court said “a statute criminalising expression the Delhi High Court took a diametrically opposite based on unconstitutionally vague definitions view of the law. In the case of Harvinder Kaur v of ‘disaffection towards Government’ etc. is an Harmander Singh Chaudhry, the Delhi High Court unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right upheld the provision. to free expression guaranteed under Article 19

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(1)(a) and causes constitutionally impermissible Analysis ‘Chilling Effect’ on speech”. ¾ Arguments in Favour of Section 124A: ¾ Background of Sedition Law: € Has its utility in combating anti-national, secessionist th € Sedition laws were enacted in 17 century and terrorist elements. England when lawmakers believed that only good € It protects the elected government from attempts as opinions of the government should survive, to overthrow the government with violence and bad opinions were detrimental to the government illegal means. and monarchy. € If contempt of court invites penal action, contempt € The law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas of government should also attract punishment. Macaulay, the British historian-politician, but was € Many districts in different states face a maoist inexplicably omitted when theIndian Penal Code insurgency and rebel groups, they openly (IPC) was enacted in 1860. advocate the overthrow of the state government € Section 124A was inserted in 1870 by an amend- by revolution. ment introduced by Sir James Stephen when it € Against this backdrop, the abolition of Section 124A felt the need for a specific section to deal with would be ill-advised merely because it has been the offence. wrongly invoked in some highly publicized cases. z It was one of the many draconian laws enacted ¾ Arguments against Section 124A: to stifle any voices of dissent at that time. € It is a constraint on the legitimate exercise of z It was used by the British to silenceMahatma constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. and expression. ¾ Sedition Law Today: Sedition is a crime under Section € Dissent and criticism of the government are 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). essential ingredients of robust public debate in a € Section 124A IPC: vibrant democracy. They should not be constructed z It defines sedition as an offence committed as sedition. when “any person by words, either spoken or € The British, who introduced sedition to oppress written, or by signs, or by visible representation, Indians, have themselves abolished the law in their or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into country. There is no reason why India should not hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to abolish this section. excite disaffection towards the government € The terms used under Section 124A like‘disaffection’ established by law in India”. are vague and subject to different interpretations to z Disaffection includesdisloyalty and all feelings the whims and fancies of the investigating officers. of enmity. However, comments without exciting € IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 2019 or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or have provisions that penalize “disrupting the public disaffection, will not constitute an offence order” or “overthrowing the government with under this section. violence and illegal means”. These are sufficient € Punishment for the Offence of Sedition: for protecting national integrity. z Sedition is a non-bailable offence. Punishment € The sedition law is being misused as a tool to under the Section 124A ranges from imprisonment persecute political dissent. up to three years to a life term, to which fine € In 1979, India ratified the International Covenant may be added. on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which sets z A person charged under this law is barred from forth internationally recognized standards for the a government job. protection of freedom of expression. However, „ They have to live without their passport and misuse of sedition and arbitrary slapping of must produce themselves in the court at all charges are inconsistent with India’s international times as and when required. commitments.

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€ Maintaining Public Trust: Legislators should act No Parliamentary within the parameters of the public trust imposed Immunity for Vandalism: SC on them to do their duty. z They had taken office swearing true allegiance to the Constitution. Why in News z They had to uphold the sovereignty and integrity Recently, the Supreme Court has rejected Kerala of India and had to perform the duty imposed government’s plea to withdraw criminal cases against on them by the people who elected them. its MLAs who were charged in the assembly. ¾ About Parliamentary Privilege: ¾ The ruling Kerala government had appealed, to the € Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and Supreme Court, to withdraw a criminal case against immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, their leaders who destroyed public property and individually and collectively, so that they can disrupted a Budget speech on the State Assembly “effectively discharge their functions”. floor in 2015. z When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach Key Points of privilege and is punishable under law of ¾ Arguments of the Petitioner: Parliament. € The Kerala Government had claimed parliamentary € The Constitution (Article 105 for Parliament and privilege, arguing that the incident occurred inside Article 194 for State Assemblies) mentions two the Assembly hall. privileges, i.e. freedom of speech in Parliament € They had claimed immunity from criminal and right of publication of its proceedings. prosecution. € Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule € They had argued that the prior sanction of the Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 Speaker was necessary before the registration of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege. of an FIR by the police. ¾ Individualistic Privileges: ¾ Highlights of the Judgement: € Freedom of Speech: The members of Parliament/ state assembly enjoy freedom of speech and € Parliamentary Privileges are Not Gateways of expression. Immunity: The legislators who indulge in vandalism and general mayhem cannot claim parliamentary z No member can be taken to task anywhere privilege and immunity from criminal prosecution. outside the four walls of the House (e.g. court of law) or cannot be discriminated against for € Vandalism is Not Essential Legislative Action: expressing his/her views in the House and its Lawmakers possess privileges that are essential Committees. for exercising public functions. z However, a member has the privilege of freedom z Vandalism and destruction inside the House are of speech in Parliament, he has no right to not essential for exercising legislative function. publish it outside Parliament. € Vandalism on the Vandalism and Right to Protest: € Freedom from Arrest: No member shall be Assembly floor could not be equated with the arrested in a civil case 40 days before and after right to protest by Opposition legislators. the adjournment of the House and also when the z No member of an elected legislature can claim House is in session. either a privilege or immunity to stand above z It also means that no member can be arrested the sanctions of the criminal law(Prevention of within the precincts of the Parliament without Damage to Public Property Act, 1984), which the permission of the House to which he/she applies equally to all citizens. belongs. z Destruction of public property could not € Exemption from Attendance as Witnesses: The be equated with the exercise of freedom of members of Parliament/ assemblies also enjoy speech. freedom from attendance as witnesses.

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¾ Collective Privileges: z Information Technology Act, 2000 provides for € Right to Publish Debates and Proceedings: safeguard against certain breaches in relation Parliament/Assembly can prohibit the press from to data from computer systems. publishing its proceedings, when needed. „ It contains provisions to prevent the unauthorized use of computers, computer € Right to exclude strangers: Parliament/Assembly systems and data stored therein. enjoys the right to exclude strangers (no-members or visitors) from the galleries at any time and to ¾ Personal Data Protection Bill and RTBF: resolve debate with closed doors. € In December, 2019, the Personal Data Protection Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha. It aims to set € Right to Punish Members and Outsiders: In India, out provisions meant for the protection of the the Parliament/Assembly has been given punitive personal data of individuals. powers to punish those who are judged guilty of contempt of the House. € Clause 20 under Chapter V of this draft bill titled “Rights of Data Principal” mentions the “Right to be Forgotten.” Right to be Forgotten z It states that the “data principal (the person to whom the data is related) shall have the right Why in News to restrict or prevent the continuing disclosure of his personal data by a data fiduciary”. Recently, a reality show contestant has approached z Therefore, broadly, under the Right to be the Delhi High Court with a plea seeking the removal of forgotten, users can de-link, limit, delete his videos, photographs and articles etc. from the internet or correct the disclosure of their personal citing his “Right to be Forgotten (RTBF)”. information held by data fiduciaries. ¾ In the plea, the petitioner also maintains that the „ A data fiduciary means any person, including “Right to be Forgotten” goes in sync with the “Right the State, a company, any juristic entity or any to Privacy”, which is an integral part of Article 21of individual who alone or in conjunction with the Constitution (Right to Life). others determines the purpose and means of processing of personal data. Key Points z Data Protection Authority (DPA):Even so, the ¾ About: sensitivity of the personal data and information € Right to be Forgotten (RTBF):It is the right to have cannot be determined independently by the publicly available personal information removed person concerned, but will be overseen by the from the internet, search, databases, websites Data Protection Authority (DPA). or any other public platforms, once the personal „ This means that while the draft bill gives some information in question is no longer necessary, provisions under which a data principal can or relevant. seek that his data be removed, his or her rights are subject to authorisation by the € Origin: The RTBF gained importance after the 2014 Adjudicating Officer who works for the DPA. decision of the Court of Justice of the European „ While assessing the data principal’s request, Union (“CJEU”) in the Google Spain case. this officer will need to examine the sensitivity z RTBF has been recognised as a statutory right of the personal data, the scale of disclosure, in the European Union under the General Data degree of accessibility sought to be restricted, Protection Regulation (GDPR). role of the data principal in public life and z It has been upheld by a number of courts in the nature of the disclosure among some the United Kingdom, and in Europe. other variables. € Status in India: In India, there is no law that ¾ Right to Privacy and RTBF: specifically provides for the right to be forgotten. € The RTBF falls under the purview of an individual’s However, the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 right to privacy, which is governed by the Personal recognised this right. Data Protection Bill, 2019.

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€ In 2017, the Right to Privacy was declared a € On Booth Capturing: Booth capturing and/or bogus fundamental right by the Supreme Court in its voting should be dealt with iron hands, because it landmark Puttaswamy case verdict. ultimatelyaffects the rule of law and democracy. z The court said that, “the right to privacy is z Nobody can be permitted todilute the right to protected as an intrinsic part of the right to free and fair election. life and personal liberty under Article 21 and € On Unlawful Assembly: Once the unlawful assembly as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by Part is established in prosecution of the common object, III of the Constitution”. each member of the unlawful assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting. Challenges z The use of the force, even though it be the ¾ Conflict with Public Record: Right to be forgotten may slightest possible character by any one member get into conflict with matters involving public records. of the assembly, once established as unlawful € For instance, judgments have always been treated constitutes rioting. as public records and fall within the definition of z It is not necessary that force or violence must a public document according to Section 74 of the be by all but the liability accrues to all the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. members of the unlawful assembly. € The RTBF cannot be extended to official public z The definition of ‘unlawful assembly’, according records, especially judicial records as that would to Indian law, is laid down in Section 141 of the undermine public faith in the judicial system in Indian Penal Code. the long run. ¾ Judgement in People’s Union for Civil Liberties case, ¾ Individual vs Society: Right to be forgotten creates a 2013: dilemma between the right to privacy of individuals € The two main key components that came out of and the right to information of society and freedom the Supreme Court judgment are: of press. z Right to vote also includes a right not to vote i.e right to reject. Secrecy of Vote z Right to secrecy is an integral part of a free and fair election. € It implies that a voter while voting Why In News Right to Reject: has every right not to opt for any of the candidates Recently, the Supreme Court of India held that in during an election. any election, be it to Parliament or State legislature, the z Such a right implies a choice to remain neutral. maintenance of secrecy of voting is “a must”. It has its genesis in freedom of speech and ¾ It reiterated its 2013 judgement in the People’s Union expression. for Civil Liberties case. z Introducing a ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) button can increase public participation in an Key Points electoral process. ¾ Highlights of the Latest Judgement: € Right to Secrecy: € Part of Fundamental Right: The secrecy is a part of z It is a central right of an elector to cast his vote the fundamental right of freedom of expression. without fear of reprisal, duress or coercion as z The confidentiality of choice strengthened per Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. democracy. „ Protection of the elector’s identity and € Part of Basic Structure: Democracy and free affording secrecy is therefore integral to free elections were a part of the Basic Structure of and fair elections. the Constitution. z An arbitrary distinction between the voter who z The concept of ‘basic structure’ came into exis- casts his vote and the voter who does not cast tence in the landmark judgment in Kesavananda his vote is violative of Article ,14 Article 19(1) Bharati vs State of Kerala case (1973). (a) and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

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z Article 21(3) of the Universal Declaration of each House of the Parliament from time to Human Rights and Article 25(b) of the Inter- time. The gap between two sessions of the national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Parliament cannot exceed 6 months, which deals with the “Right to secrecy”. means the Parliament meets at least two times ¾ Other Related Judgement: in one year. € Earlier, the SC held that the principle of secrecy of ¾ Adjournment: ballots is an important postulate of constitutional € Adjournment terminates the sitting of the House democracy and referred to Section 94 of the which meets again at the time appointed for the Representation of People Act (RPA) 1951. next sitting. The postponement may be for a z The section upholds theprivilege of the voters specified time such as hours, days or weeks. to maintain confidentiality about their choice € If the meeting is terminated without any definite of the vote. time/ date fixed for the next meeting, it is called Adjournment sine die. Parliament Sessions € The power of adjournment as well as adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officerSpeaker ( or Chairman) of the House. Why in News ¾ Prorogation: Recently, the Monsoon session of Parliament has € Prorogation is the end of session and not the begun, after the reshuffling of the Council of ministers dissolution of the house (in case of Lok Sabha, and the Cabinet committees. as Rajya Sabha does not dissolve). Key Points € It is done by the President of India. ¾ Sessions of Parliament: ¾ Quorum: € The summoning of Parliament is specified in Article € Quorum refers to the minimum number of the 85 of the Constitution. members required to be present for conducting a meeting of the house. € The power to convene a session of Parliament rests with the Government. € The Constitution has fixed one-tenth strength z The decision is taken by the Cabinet Committee as quorum for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. on Parliamentary Affairs which is formalised by € Thus, to conduct a sitting of Lok Sabha, there the President, in whose name MPs (Members should be at least 55 members present while to of Parliament) are summoned to meet for a conduct a sitting ofRajya Sabha, there should be session. at least 25 members present. € India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. ¾ Joint Session of Parliament (Article 108): By convention (i.e. not provided by the Constitution), € The Constitution of India provides for the joint Parliament meets for three sessions in a year. sitting of the Parliament’s two Houses, the Lok z The longest, Budget Session (1st session), starts Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, in order to break any towards the end of January, and concludes by deadlock between the two. the end of April or first week of May. € The joint sitting is called by the President. Such z The second session is the three-week Monsoon a session is presided over by the Speaker, and in Session, which usually begins in July and finishes his/her absence, by the Deputy Speaker of the in August. Lok Sabha. rd z Winter Session (3 session), is held from € In the absence of both, it is presided over by the November to December. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. ¾ Summoning of Parliament: z If any of the above are not present, any other € Summoning is the process of calling all members of member of the Parliament can preside by the Parliament to meet. The President summons consensus of both the Houses.

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or distorted facts. Its purpose is to censure the Adjournment Motion concerned minister. € It can be moved in Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Why in News Sabha. Recently, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Political Party) ¾ Censure Motion has decided to move an Adjournment Motion in the Lok € It should state the reasons for its adoption Sabha against the government on the three controversial in the Lok Sabha. It can be moved against an farm laws. individual minister or a group of ministers or ¾ Motions and resolutions are procedural devices to the entire council of ministers. raise a discussion in the House on a matter of general € It is moved to censure the council of ministers public interest. for specific policies and actions. It can be moved only in Lok Sabha. Key Points ¾ Call-Attention Motion ¾ Adjournment motion is introduced only in the Lok € It is introduced in the Parliament by a member Sabha to draw the attention of the House to a definite to call the attention of a minister to a matter matter of urgent public importance. of urgent public importance, and to seek an € It involves an element of censure against the authoritative statement from him on that matter. government, therefore Rajya Sabha is not permitted € It can be moved in Rajya Sabha as well as Lok to make use of this device. Sabha. ¾ It is regarded as an extraordinary device as it interrupts ¾ Adjournment Motion the normal business of the House. It needs the support of 50 members to be admitted. € It is introduced in the Lok Sabha to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of ¾ The discussion on this motion should last for not less urgent public importance. It involves an element than two hours and thirty minutes. of censure against the government. ¾ However, the right to move a motion for an adjournment € It can be moved only in Lok Sabha. of the business of the House is subject to the following restrictions. i.e. it should: ¾ No-Day-Yet-Named Motion € € Raise a matter which is definite, factual, urgent It is a motion that has been admitted by the and of public importance. Speaker but no date has been fixed for its discussion. € Not cover more than one matter. € It can be moved in Rajya Sabha as well as Lok € Be restricted to a specific matter of recent Sabha. occurrence. ¾ No Confidence Motion € Not raise a question ofprivilege . € Article 75 of the Constitution says that the council € Not revive discussion on a matter that has been of ministers shall be collectively responsible to discussed in the same session. the Lok Sabha. In other words, the Lok Sabha € Not deal with any matter that is under adjudication can remove the ministry from office by passing of court. a no-confidence motion. The motionneeds the € Not raise any question that can be raised on a support of 50 members to be admitted. distinct motion. € It can be moved only in Lok Sabha. Types of Motions in Indian Parliament ¾ Motion of Thanks ¾ Privilege Motion € The first session after each general election and € It is moved by a member when he feels that a the first session of every fiscal year is addressed minister has committed a breach of privilege by the president. This address of the president of the House or one or more of its members by is discussed in both the Houses of Parliament withholding facts of a case or by giving wrong on a motion called the ‘Motion of Thanks’.

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President in consultation with theChief Justice of € This motion must be passed in the House. Otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the India (CJI), the Governor of the State. government. z In the case of appointment of a Judge other ¾ Cut Motions than the Chief Justice, theChief Justice of the High Court is consulted. € A cut motion is a special power vested in € members of the Lok Sabha to oppose a demand Consultation Process: High Court judges are being discussed for specific allocation by the recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI government in the Finance Bill as part of the and two senior-most judges. Demand for Grants. z The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in € If the motion is adopted, it amounts to a no- confidence vote, and if the government fails to consultation with two senior-most colleagues. jot up numbers in the lower House, it is obliged z The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, to resign according to the norms of the House. who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister. € A motion may be moved to reduce the amount of a demand in any of the following ways: z The Chief Justice of the High Courtis appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from z Policy Cut Motion: It is moved so that the amount of the demand be reduced to outside the respective States. Re.1 (represents disapproval of the policy „ The Collegium takes the call on the elevation. underlying the demand). € Ad-hoc Judges: The appointment of retired judges z Economy Cut Motions: It is moved so that was provided for in the Constitution underArticle the amount of the demand will be reduced 224A. by a specified amount. z Under the Article, the Chief Justice of a High z Token Cut Motions: It is moved so that the Court for any State may at any time, with the amount of the demand is reduced by Rs.100 previous consent of the President, request (expresses a specific grievance). any person who has held the office of judge of € It can be moved only in Lok Sabha. that court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court for that State. z Recently, the Supreme Court pushed for the Judicial appointment of retired judges to battle the Appointments to High Courts pendency of cases in High Courts. „ It orally outlined prospective guidelines Why in News for the appointment and functioning of an Recently, the Union Minister of Law and Justice ad-hoc judge. informed the Rajya Sabha regarding the appointment of ¾ Collegium System: judges in various high courts. € It is the system of appointment and transfer of ¾ The minister pointed out that filling up vacancies in judges that has evolved through judgments of the higher judiciary is a continuous, integrated and the SC, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a collaborative process between the Executive and provision of the Constitution. the Judiciary. € Evolution of the System: ¾ It requires consultation and approvalfrom Constitu- z First Judges Case (1981): It declared that the tional authorities at the State as well as Central level. “primacy” of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommendation on judicial appointments and Key Points transfers can be refused for “cogent reasons.” ¾ Appointment of HC Judges: „ The ruling gave the Executive primacy over € Article 217 of the Constitution: It states that the the Judiciary in judicial appointments for Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the the next 12 years.

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z Second Judges Case (1993): SC introduced the € The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court Collegium system, holding that “consultation” declared NJAC unconstitutional in 2015,citing that really meant “concurrence”. it violates the Basic Structure of the Constitution „ It added that it was not the CJI’s individual of India on the ground that it posed a threat to opinion, but an institutional opinion formed the independence of the judiciary. in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the SC. Surveillance Laws € Third Judges Case (1998): SC on President’s reference expanded the Collegium to a five-member in India and Privacy body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior- most colleagues (for example for the transfer of Why in News HC judges). Recently, a global collaborative investigative effort ¾ Issues Involved: has revealed that, at least 300 individuals in India, were € Cumbersome Process: There are inordinate delays potentially identified for targeted surveillance using in the appointment of High Court judges and sophisticated spyware called Pegasus. However, the depleting numbers in the higher judiciary threaten government has claimed that all interception in India to affect the justice delivery mechanism. takes place lawfully. € Lack of transparency: The absence of formal criteria ¾ Communication surveillance in India takes place has multiple worrying implications. primarily under two laws - the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. z Presently, there is no structured process to investigate if a judge who is recommended ¾ While the Telegraph Act deals with interception of by the collegium has any conflict of interests. calls, the IT Act was enacted to deal with surveillance of all electronic communication. € Improper Representation: The collegium system structurally tends to favour particular sections of society and is far from being representative of the population for whom it seeks to deliver justice. € Vacancy in High Courts: The total sanctioned strength of judges across the 25 high courts is 1,098 but the working strength is only 645, a shortfall of 453 judges. € High Pendency of Cases: The total pendency of cases in the several courts of India at different levels, sums up to a total of about 3.7 crores thus increasing the demand of a better and improved judicial system. ¾ Attempts of Reform: € The attempt was made to replace the Collegium by a ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Key Points (NJAC)’ in 2014 through the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014. ¾ Telegraph Act: € z The NJAC proposed to make the appointment Under Section 5(2) of this law, the government of High Court and Supreme Court judges and can intercept calls only in certain situations: chief justices moretransparent . z Interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, z They will be selected by the commission, whose z Security of the state, members will be drawn from the judiciary, z Friendly relations with foreign states or public legislature and civil society. order,

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z Preventing incitement to the commission of € However, the scope of Section 69 the IT Act is much an offence. broader and vague than the Telegraph Act as the € These are the same restrictions imposed on free only condition precedent for engaging electronic speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. surveillance is for the “investigation of an offence”. € However, these restrictions can be imposed € These provisions are problematic and offer only when there is a condition precedent - the the government total opacity in respect of its occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interception and monitoring activities. interest of public safety. ¾ Associated Issues with the Surveillance: € Further, the grounds of selecting a person for € Legal Loopholes: According to the Centre for Internet surveillance and extent of information gathering & Society, the gaps in laws allow surveillance and has to be recorded in writing. affect privacy. For example: € This lawful interceptioncannot take place against z Ambiguity on issues like type of interception, journalists. granularity of information that can be intercepted z Provided that press messages intended to be and the degree of assistance from service published in India of correspondents accredited to providers helps in bypassing the law and aids the Central Government or a State Government, surveillance by the state. unless their transmission has been prohibited € Affects Fundamental Rights: The very existence of under this subsection. a surveillance system impacts the right to privacy € Supreme Court Intervention: In Public Union (held by the SC in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of for Civil Liberties v Union of India (1996), the SC India case, 2017) and the exercise of freedom of pointed out lack of procedural safeguards in the speech and personal liberty under Articles 19 and provisions of the Telegraph Act and laid down 21 of the Constitution. following observations: € Authoritarian Regime: The surveillance promotes z Tapping is a serious invasion of an individual’s spread of authoritarianism in the government privacy. functioning since it allows the executive to exercise z It is no doubt correct that every Government a disproportionate amount of power on the citizen exercises some degree of surveillance operation and impacts their personal lives. as a part of its intelligence outfit but at the € Threat to Freedom of Press: Current revelations same time citizen’s right to privacy has to be over the use of Pegasus highlights that surveillance protected. was also conducted on many journalists. This affects freedom of press. € Sanction for Interception: The abovementioned Supreme Court’s observations formed the basis of introducing Rule 419A in the Telegraph Rules Creamy Layer: OBC in 2007 and later in the rules prescribed under the IT Act in 2009. Why in News z Rule 419A states that a Secretary to the Gov- ernment of India (not below the rank of a Joint Recently, some MPs have raised the issue of defining Secretary) in the Ministry of Home Affairs can a Creamy Layer in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. pass orders of interception in the case of Centre, ¾ Further, the Justice Rohini committee is considering and similar provisions exist at the state level. the sub-categorization of OBC quota and if any ¾ IT Act, 2000: particular community or group of communities are benefiting most from the OBC quota and how to iron € Section 69 of the Information Technology Act out anomalies. and the Information Technology (Procedure for Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Key Points Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009 were enacted to further the legal framework for electronic ¾ Background: surveillance. € Based on the recommendation of theSecond Back-

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ward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission), € The government is considering a consensus on the government in August, 1990 had notified 27% Rs 12 lakh, whereas Parliament Committee has reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward recommended to raise upto 15 lakh per year. Classes (SEBCs) in vacancies in civil posts and ser- z It also recommended excluding salary and vices that are to be filled on direct recruitment. agricultural revenue while calculating the € After this was challenged, the Supreme Court in annual income ceiling for the creamy layer November, 1992 (Indira Sawhney case) upheld category of OBC. 27% reservation for OBCs, subject to exclusion of the creamy layer. Director of Inquiry for Lokpal ¾ Definition: € It is a concept that sets a threshold within which Why in News OBC reservation benefits are applicable. Recently, in a RTI Reply, it has been revealed that € While there is a 27% quota for OBCs in government the Centre is yet to appoint a director of inquiry, more jobs and higher educational institutions, those than two years after the Lokpal came into being. falling within the “creamy layer” (various categories based on income and parents’ rank) cannot get Key Points the benefits of this quota. ¾ About the Director of Inquiry: € Other than the income limit, the current definition € As per the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, there . of the creamy layer remains the same shall be a Director of Inquiry, not below the rank ¾ Categories defined under Creamy Layer: of Joint Secretary to the Central Government. € Income beyond 8 lakh: € As per the provisions contained under Section 20 z For those not in government, the current (1) (b) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, threshold is an income of Rs 8 lakh per year. complaints in respect of public servants are z The income threshold is supposed to be raised referred by the Lokpal to the Central Vigilance every three years. It was last revised in 2017 Commission (CVC) for a preliminary inquiry. (more than three years now). € The non-appointment of director of inquiry again € Parents’ rank: For children of government reflects thelack of political willfor strengthened employees, the threshold is based on their parents’ Lokpal in India. rank and not income. ¾ About Lokpal: z For instance, an individual is considered to € A Lokpal is an anti-corruption authority or fall within the creamy layer if either of his or ombudsman who represents the public interest. her parents is in a constitutional post; if either z India is a signatory to the United Nations parent has been directly recruited in Group-A; Convention against Corruption. or if both parents are in Group-B services. € The concept of an ombudsman was borrowed z If the parents enter Group-A through promotion from Sweden. before the age of 40, their children will be in € The Lokpal, the apex body to inquire and investigate the creamy layer. graft complaints against public functionaries, came z Children of a Colonel or higher-ranked officer in into being with the appointment of its chairperson the Army, and children of officers of similar ranks and members in March 2019. in the Navy and Air Force, too, come under the € The First Administrative Reforms Commission creamy layer. There are other criteria as well. (ARC) of India (1966– 1970) recommended the ¾ Government’s Proposal: setting up of two special authorities designated € A draft Cabinet note has stated that the creamy as ‘Lokpal’ and ‘Lokayukta’ for the redressal of layer will be determined on all income, including citizens’ grievances. salary calculated for income tax, but not agriculture z The Lokpal is responsible for enquiring into income. corruption charges at thenational level while

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the Lokayukta performs the same function at € Safai Karmachari Andolan is a movement for the the state level. elimination of manual scavenging. € The Lokpal has jurisdiction over all Members of ¾ Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees ‘Right to Parliament and central government employees Life’ and that also with dignity. This right is available in cases of corruption. to both citizens and non-citizens. € Apart from this, Lokpal can also inquire into anti- Key Points graft complaints regarding any member of an institution which is wholly or partially financed ¾ Manual Scavenging: by the central government or controlled by it. € Manual scavenging is defined as “the removal of € Presently, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose is the human excrement from public streets and dry chairperson of the Lokpal. latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers”. ¾ € Lokpal is a multi-member body that consists of Reasons for the Prevalence: one chairperson and a maximum of 8 members. € Indifferent Attitude: A number of independent surveys have talked about the continued reluctance ¾ Issues Regarding Lokpal: on the part of state governments to admit that the € Lokpal is as the not free from political influence practice prevails under their watch. appointing committee itself consists of members € Issues due to Outsourcing: Many times local from political parties. bodies outsource sewer cleaning tasks to private z The selection committee for Lokpalis composed contractors. However, many of them fly-by-night of the Prime Minister who is the Chairperson; operators, do not maintain proper rolls of sanitation Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition workers. in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a Judge z In case after case of workers being asphyxiated nominated by him/her and One eminent jurist. to death, these contractors have denied any € The appointment of Lokpal can be manipulated in association with the deceased. a way as there is no criterion to decide who is an € Social Issue: The practice isdriven by caste, class ‘eminent jurist’ or ‘a person of integrity’. and income divides. € The biggest lacunae is the exclusion of the judiciary z It is linked to India’s caste system where so-called from the ambit of the Lokpal. lower castes are expected to perform this job. € The Lokpal is not given any constitutional backing z In 1993, India banned the employment of and there is no adequate provision for appeal people as manual scavengers (The Employment against the Lokpal. of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry € The complaint against corruption cannot be Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993), however, the registered after a period of seven years from stigma and discrimination associated with it the date on which the offence mentioned in such still linger on. a complaint is alleged to have been committed. „ This makes it difficult for liberated manual scavengers to secure alternative livelihoods. Menace of Manual Scavenging ¾ Steps Taken: € The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Why in News Bill, 2020: Recently, the centre has claimed that no deaths due z It proposes to completely mechanise sewer to manual scavenging have been reported in the past cleaning, introduce ways for ‘on-site’ protection five years. and provide compensation to manual scavengers ¾ However, according to the National Convener of the in case of sewer deaths. Safai Karmachari Andolan, 472 manual scavenging z It will be an amendment to The Prohibition of deaths across the country were recorded between Employment as Manual Scavengers and their 2016 and 2020, and 26 so far in 2021. Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

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z It is still awaiting cabinet approval. Key Points € The Prohibition of Employment as Manual ¾ About All India Quota (AIQ) Scheme: Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: € The AIQ was introduced in 1986 under the directions z Superseding the 1993 Act, the 2013 Act goes of the Supreme Court (SC) to provide for domicile- beyond prohibitions on dry latrines, and outlaws free merit-based opportunities to students from all manual excrement cleaning of insanitary any State to aspire to study in a medical college latrines, open drains, or pits. located in another State. € Prevention of Atrocities Act: z It comprises 15% of UG seats and 50% of PG z In 1989, the Prevention ofAtrocities Act became seats in government medical colleges. an integrated guard for sanitation workers; z Remaining chunk of the seats in state medical/ more than 90% people employed as manual dental colleges is reserved for students domiciled

scavengers belonged to the Scheduled Caste. in their respective states. This became an important landmark to free € In January, 2007, in Abhay Nath v University of manual scavengers from designated traditional Delhi and Others the SC directed that reservation occupations. , of 15% for Scheduled Castes and 7.5% for Scheduled € Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge: Tribes be introduced in the AIQ. z It was launched by the Ministry of Housing z Until 2007, no reservation was imple- and Urban Affairs on World Toilet Day (19th mented within the All India Quota for medical November) in 2020. admission. z The Government launched this “challenge” for € When the Central Educational Institutions (Res- all states to make sewer-cleaning mechanised ervation in Admission) Act became effective in by April 2021 — if any human needs to enter a 2007, providing for a uniform 27% reservation to sewer line in case of unavoidable emergency, the OBCs, the scheme was implemented in all the proper gear and oxygen tanks, etc., are to be Central Educational Institutions. provided. z However, this was not extended to the AIQ € ‘Swachhta Abhiyan App’: seats of State medical and dental colleges. z It has been developed to identify and geotag z The 10% EWS quota under the Constitution the data of insanitary latrines and manual (One Hundred And Third Amendment) Act, scavengers so that the insanitary latrines can be too, has been implemented in central replaced with sanitary latrines and rehabilitate 2019, all the manual scavengers to provide dignity of educational Institutions, but not in the National life to them. Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) AIQ for state institutions. € SC Judgement: In 2014, a Supreme Court order made it mandatory for the government to identify all those who died in sewage work since 1993 and provide Rs. 10 lakh each as compensation to their families.

NEET’s All India Quota

Why in News Recently, the Union Health Ministry has announced 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the All India Quota (AIQ) scheme for under- graduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical / dental courses from 2021-22 onwards.

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€ Now, after this decision, the Reservation for the € The bill proposes a three-tier institutional OBC and EWS categories within the AIQ will be framework: offered in medical colleges from the current z It launches a new emigration policy division in academic year. (MEA) which will be referred to as the Central z This decision will help thousands of students Emigration Management Authority. under the given categories. z It proposes a Bureau of Emigration Policy ¾ About NEET: and Planning, and a Bureau of Emigration € The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Administration shall handle day-to-day (NEET) is the entrance examination for entry to operational matters and oversee the welfare all undergraduate and postgraduate medical and of emigrants. dental courses in the country. z It proposes nodal agencies under a Chief € Until 2016, theAll India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) Emigration Officer to ensure the welfare and was the national-level entrance examination for protection of the emigrants. medical colleges. € It permits government authorities topunish workers z While state governments used to hold separate by cancelling or suspending their passports and entrance tests for seats that were not contested imposing fines up to Rs 50,000 for violating any at an all-India level. of the Bill’s provisions. € In 2016, the Supreme Court upheld the newly z When enforced, it can be used as a tool inserted section10-D of the Indian Medical Council to crackdown on workers who migrate Act, 1956 which provides for a uniform entrance through unregistered brokers or via irregular examination to all medical educational institutions arrangements such as on tourist visas. at undergraduate level and postgraduate level in € The proposed legislation will also maintain Hindi, English and various other languages. registration of human resources agencies, validity z Now, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and renewal and cancellation of a certificate. stands repealed after it has been replaced by z Besides, authorities will be empowered to have the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 certain powers of the civil court. that came into existence on 8th August 2019. ¾ Need for the Bill: € It is conducted by the National Testing Agency € Labour migration is governed by the Emigration (NTA). Act, 1983 which sets up a mechanism for hiring through government-certified recruiting agents - Emigration Bill 2021 individuals or public or private agencies. z It outlines obligations for agents to conduct due Why in News diligence of prospective employers, sets up a cap Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) invited on service fees, and establishes a government public inputs to the Emigration Bill 2021. The Bill presents review of worker travel and employment a long overdue opportunity to reform the recruitment documents (known as emigration clearances). process for nationals seeking employment abroad. z The Emigration Act, 1983 enacted in the specific context of large-scale emigration to the Gulf, Key Points falls short in addressing the wide geo-economic, ¾ Key Features of the Bill: geo-political and geo-strategic impact that emigration has today. € The Bill intends to replace the Emigration Act of 1983. € For years, independent investigations into migrant € The Bill envisages comprehensive emigration worker conditions have management, institutes regulatory mechanisms underlined serious which include: governing overseas employment of Indian nationals exploitative practices and establishes a framework for protection and z Large recruitment charges, promotion of welfare of emigrants. z Contract substitution,

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z Deception, z Retention of passports, Geospatial Technologies z Non-payment or underpayment of wages, for the Water Sector in India z Poor living conditions, z Discrimination and other forms of ill-treatment. Why in News € For instance, in recent months, media reports Recently, the Association of Geospatial Industries have highlighted how the majority of migrant released a report titled “Potential of Geospatial Tech- worker deaths in the Arab Gulf States/West Asia nologies for the Water Sector in India’’. The report men- are attributed to heart attacks and respiratory tions opportunities in the Water sector that can benefit failures, whose causes are unexplained and poorly from the use of Geospatial technologies. understood. ¾ As the severity of the water crisis in India increases ¾ Associated Issues: every year, central and state government agencies are using a variety of resources to tackle the water € Lacks a Human Rights Framework: The bill is crisis. One among them is the adoption of Geospatial criticised to belacking a human rights framework technologies. aimed at securing the rights of migrants and their families. For example: Key Points z The penal provisions under the law criminalizes ¾ Overview of Water Sector in India: the choices migrant workers make either € Demand-Supply Mismatch: India has about 17% because they are unaware of the law, under of the world population, but only about 4% of the influence of their recruiters, or simply the world’s freshwater reserves, and is currently desperate to find a decent job. facing a severe water challenge. z Further, migrants in an irregular situation who z Further, total capacity of India’s reservoirs fear that they could be fined or have their stands at 250 billion cubic meters (bcm), while passports revoked, are also less likely to make its total water bearing capacity over the surface complaints or pursue remedies for abuses faced. is around 320 bcm. € Not in Sync With International Standards: The Bill € Low Rate of Collection: India receives 3,000 billion permits manpower agencies to charge workers’ cubic metres of water every year through rainfall service fees, and even allows agents to set their or other sources such as glaciers; of this, only 8% own limits. is collected. z However, International labour standards and the € Over-extraction & Over-reliance on Groundwater: International Labour organization( ILO) general India fills groundwater aquifers at the rate of 458 principles recognise that it is employers, not bcm per year, while it extracts around 650 bcm workers who should bear recruitment payments. of water from the earth. z Worker-paid recruitment fees eat into their z 89% of India’s water resources are used for savings, force them to take high-interest loans, agriculture, out of which 65% is withdrawn leave workers in situations of debt bondage — a from under the ground. form of forced labour. z Thus, one of India’s biggest challenges is to € Scant Gender Dimensions: This Bill does not conserve groundwater. also adequately reflect the gender dimensions of € Water Stress: As per a NITI Aayog report, currently labour migration. nearly 820 million people in 12 major river basins z Women have limited agency in recruitment of India face extreme water stress. compared to their counterparts and are more € Qualitative Issue: Adding to the issue of lack of likely to be employed in marginalised and water availability is the issue of water quality. informal sectors and/or isolated occupations z Groundwater in one-third of India’s 600 districts in which labour, physical, psychological, and is contaminated mainly through fluoride and sexual abuse are common. arsenic.

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z Further, there has been a 136% increase in the number of grossly polluting industriesbetween 2011- 2018, according to the State of India’s Environment report, 2019. ¾ Need to Conserve Water: € Given the population density and requirement of water for agriculture, India is heavily dependent on groundwater and is one of the worst hit countries as far as the water crisis is concerned. € Availability of clean water to all for personal, industrial, and agricultural use will not only ¾ Major Ongoing Water Projects in India: ensure India reaches its vision of becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy but will also enable € Recognising the water crisis in India, the government of India formed a single ministry i.e Ministry of Jal it to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Shakti. Previously, water was a subject which was Development Goals. dealt with by almost nine Ministries. ¾ About Geospatial Technologies: € Jal Jeevan Mission € Geospatial technologies is a term used to describe € Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project the range of modern tools contributing to the (DRIP) geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth € Namami Gange and human societies. € National River Linking Project (NRLP) € The term ‘geospatial’ refers not to one single € Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban technology, but a collection of technologies Transformation (AMRUT) that help to collect, analyse, store, manage, € National Hydrology Programme distribute, integrate, and present geographic information. € Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) € National Aquifer Mapping and Management € Broadly speaking, it consists of the following Programme (NAQUIM) technologies: € River Basin Management z Remote Sensing € Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) z GIS (Geographic Information System) € National Water Mission z GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) z Survey Digital Twin z 3D modelling ¾ Digital Twin is a virtual replica of the physical world, its dynamics, and processes, which allow us to € Benefits: Geospatial technology enables better simulate real life situations and analyse its impact. measurement, management, and maintenance of assets, monitoring of resources and even providing ¾ Digital twins are composed of three parts: predictive and prescriptive analysis for forecasting € the physical entities in the physical world, and planned interventions. € the virtual models in the virtual world, and ¾ Geospatial Technology for Water Sector: € the connected data that tie the two worlds. € Geospatial and digital technologies like Satellite ¾ Digital Twins not only integrate the digital repre- Based Remote Sensing, GPS Based Equipment sentation of physical assets, like physical systems and Sensors, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data of pipes, pumps, valves, and tanks, but also include Analytics, Internet of Things, 5G, Robotics and historical data sets such as weather records and Digital Twin, can be effectively used to combat realtime dynamic interactions, which allow them the water crisis. to be used for multiple analyses.

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€ The various surveys do indicate that women Women’s representatives from Panchayati Raj have worked Reservation Bill commendably in the development and overall well-being of society in villages and many of Recently, a political party hasraised the demand of them would definitely want to work on the larger bringing the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill to scale, however, they face various challenges in the Parliament, ahead of the monsoon session. political structure prevalent in India. ¾ The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in May z Challenges include lack of proper political 2008 and was referred to a standing committee. In education, low financial power of women in 2010, it was passed in the House and transmitted society, sexual violence, manifestations of finally to the Lok Sabha. However, the Bill lapsed insecure patriarchy, uneven distribution of with the 15th Lok Sabha. household work between men and women, etc. z The phenomenon of Panchayat Patis – Key Points husbands (or other male relatives) using women ¾ Origin: as proxies in PRIs and wielding the real power € The original idea for this bill originated from a – is prevalent. constitutional amendment which was passed ¾ Significance: back in 1993. € Women’s political empowerment is premised on € The constitutional amendment stated that a three fundamental and non-negotiable principles: random one third of village council leader, or z The equality between women and men. Sarpanch, positions in the gram panchayat should z Women’s right to a full development of their be reserved for women. potential. € The Women’s Reservation Bill was launched as a z Women’s right to self representation and self- long term plan to extend this reservation to Lok determination. Sabha and state legislative assemblies. € There is a gender gap in political decision-making, ¾ About the Bill: and women leaders need to come out more in € The bill seeks to reserve 33% seats in Lok numbers to impact position decisions and inspire Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for teenage girls to contribute to nation-building. women. ¾ Issues: € Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to € It has been argued that it would perpetuate the different constituencies in the state or union unequal status of women since they would not territory. be perceived to be competing on merit. € Reservation of seats for women shall cease to € It is also contended that this policy diverts exist 15 years after the commencement of this attention from the larger issues of electoral reform Amendment Act. such as criminalisation of politics and inner party ¾ Need: democracy. € According to Global Gender Gap Report 2021, € It restricts the choice of voters to women candidates. India has declined on the political empowerment € Rotation of reserved constituencies in every index by 13.5 percentage points, and a decline in election may reduce the incentive for an MP to the number of women ministers, from 23.1% in work for his constituency as he may be ineligible 2019 to 9.1% in 2021. to seek re-election from that constituency. € It is acknowledged even by the government’s z Some experts have suggested the adoption/ Economic Surveys that women’s representatives promotion of alternative methods, such as in Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies are reservation in political parties and dual member abysmally low. constituencies.

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Government of India, or a Chief Secretary to a New Commission for State government. Air Quality Management z The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years. Why in News € It will have members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the stakeholder States. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is set to table the Commission for Air € It will have experts from the Central Pollution Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 in Parliament during the Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society. Monsoon Session. ¾ Functions: € Coordinating actions taken by concerned state Key Points governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, ¾ Background and New Changes: and Uttar Pradesh). € Initially, theCommission for Air Quality Management € Planning and executing plans to prevent and ordinance was promulgated by the President in control air pollution in the NCR. October, 2020 but the bill to replace the ordinance € Providing a framework for identification of air was not passed in the budget session of Parliament, pollutants. as a result of which the commission ceased to € through operate in March, 2020. Conducting research and development networking with technical institutions. € Subsequently, the MoEFCC brought a second € to deal ordinance in April 2021, with modifications due Training and creating a special workforce to the farmers’ protest. with issues related to air pollution. € such as increasing z Farmers had raised concerns of stiff penalties Preparing various action plans and possible jail terms for stubble burning (as plantation and addressing stubble burning. stated in the first ordinance). ¾ Powers: z The government has decriminalised the act of € The new body will have the power to issue directions stubble burning and withdrawn the clause for and entertain complaints as it deems necessary possible jail time. for the purpose of protecting and improving the z However, environmental compensation fees are quality of the air in the NCR and adjoining areas. levied on those who are found to be engaged € It will also lay down parameters for control of air in stubble burning, including farmers. pollution (such as permissible levels of emissions ¾ About the Bill: and discharge of pollutants). € It provides for the constitution of a Commission for € It will also be in charge of identifying violators, better coordination, research, identification, and monitoring factories and industries and any resolution of problems related to air quality in the other polluting unit in the region, and will have National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas. the powers to shut down such units. z Adjoining areas have been defined as areas in € It will also have the powers to overrule directives the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and issued by the state governments in the region, Uttar Pradesh adjoining the NCR where any that may be in violation of pollution norms. source of pollution may causeadverse impact on air quality in the NCR. Essential Defence € It also dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in Services Bill, 2021 the NCR in 1998. ¾ Composition: Why in News € The Commission will be headed by a full-time Recently, the government introduced the Essential chairperson who has been a Secretary to the Defence Services Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha.

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¾ It seeks to replace the ordinance issued in June 2021 Right to Strikes and by anyone prohibits any agitation and strike ¾ Right to strike is recognized globally. Article 19(1) engaged in the essential defence services. the Constitution of India guarantees the protection of certain freedoms as fundamental rights such as: Key Points € Freedom of speech and expression. ¾ Essential Defence Services: € Assemble peaceably and without arms. € It includes any service in any establishment or € Form associations or unions. undertaking dealing with production of goods or € Move freely throughout the territory of India. equipment required for defence related purposes € Reside and settle in any part of the territory or any establishment of the armed forces or of India. connected with them or defence. € Practise any profession, or to carry on any z It also includes services that, if ceased, would occupation, trade or business. affect the safety of the establishment engaged ¾ However, strike is not expressly recognized in the in such services or its employees. Constitution of India. The Supreme Court settled € In addition, the government may declare any the case of Kameshwar Prasad v. The State of Bihar service as an essential defence service if its 1958 by stating that strike is not a fundamental cessation would affect the: right. Government employees have no legal or z Production of defence equipment or goods. moral rights to go on strikes. z Operation or maintenance of industrial ¾ India recognized strike as a statutory right under establishments or units engaged in such the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. production. Industrial Disputes Act 1947 z Repair or maintenance of products connected ¾ It defines public utility service and strike, it also with defence. puts certain prohibitions on the right to strike. It ¾ Defined Strikes: provides that no person employed in public utility service shall go on strike in breach of contract: € It is defined as cessation of work by a body of persons acting together, which includes: € Without giving the employer notice of strike within six weeks before striking. z Mass casual leave. € Within fourteen days of giving such notice. z Coordinated refusal of any number of persons € of strike specified to continue to work or accept employment. Before the expiry of the date in any such notice as aforesaid. z Refusal to work overtime, where such work is € During the pendency of any conciliation necessary for maintenance of essential defence proceedings before a conciliation officer and seven services. days after the conclusion of such proceedings. z Any other conduct which results in, or is likely ¾ It is to be noted that these provisions do not to result in, disruption of work in essential prohibit the workmen from going on strike but defence services. require them to fulfill the condition before going ¾ Prohibition on strikes, lock-outs, and lay-offs: on strike. Further these provisions apply to a public € Government may prohibit strikes, lock-outs, and utility service only. lay-offs in units engaged in essential defence z Employers violating the prohibition order through services. illegal lock-outs or lay-offs will be punished with € It may issue such an order if necessary in the up to one year imprisonment or Rs 10,000 interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, fine, or both. security of any state, public order, public, decency € Strikes: and morality. z Persons commencing or participating in illegal ¾ Punishment: strikes - Up to one year imprisonment or € Illegal Lock-Outs and Lay-Offs: Rs 10,000 fine, or both.

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z Persons instigating, inciting, or taking € All offences punishable will be cognisable and actions to continue illegal strikes, or knowingly non-bailable. supplying money for such purposes – Up z Cognisable offences are those that require an to two years imprisonment or Rs 15,000 fine, immediate arrest. or both. ¾ Public Utility Service: „ Such an employee will be liable to disciplinary € It will amend the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to action including dismissal as per the terms include essential defence services under public and conditions of his service. utility services. „ In such cases, the concerned authority is z The undertakings which supply the basic allowed to dismiss or remove the employee necessary services such as electricity, water, without any inquiry, if it is not reasonably gas, power, transport etc. comes under the practicable to hold such inquiry. purview of the public utility services.

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Economic Scenario

Highlights z Reforms Based and Results Linked Scheme: DISCOMs z Suspension of FCRA Certificate z Credit Growth for MSMEs z Periodic Labour Force Survey 2019-20 z Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 z Investment Climate in India z AERA Amendment Bill, 2021 z RBI to Introduce Digital Currency z Non-Bank PSPs to Join Centralised Payment System z Special Economic Zones z DICGC Bill, 2021 z Subsidy Scheme to Boost Merchant Ships z UN’s Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2021 z Amendment in IBBI Regulations 2016 z Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment Bill), 2021 z Stand Up India Scheme z World Economic Outlook: IMF z Indian Labour Conference z Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021 z External Benchmarks Lending Rate z SLDE and GHG Calculator z Foreign Card Payment Network Companies Barred: RBI z Promoting Digital Banking z India’s Textile Sector z New Facilities Under Strategic Petroleum Reserves z 30 Years of Economic Liberalisation z Tackling the Menace of Black Money

€ Developing institutional capabilities for modern Reforms Based and Results discoms. Linked Scheme: DISCOMs € Improvement in the quality, reliability, and affordability of power supply to consumers through Why in News a financially sustainable and operationally efficient Distribution Sector. This Union cabinet has recently approved a Reforms- based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector € Implementation of the Scheme would be based on Scheme. the action plan worked out for each staterather ¾ The scheme requires that DISCOMs (Power Distribution than a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Companies) submit detailed project reports (DPRs) ¾ Features: on how they plan to reduce their operational losses € Conditional Financial Assistance: The Scheme to avail of funding. seeks to improve the operational efficiencies and ¾ Initially, the preliminary timeline given to discoms financial sustainability of all DISCOMs (excluding was 31st October 2021. It is now extended to 31st Private Sector DISCOMs) by providing conditional December 2021. financial assistance to DISCOMs for strengthening Key Points of supply infrastructure. € Subsuming of Various Schemes: It is proposed that ¾ Scheme Objectives: the currently ongoing approved projects under the € Reduction of AT&C (aggregate technical & following Schemes would be subsumed: commercial) losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% by 2024-25. z Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) € Reduction ofACS-ARR gap (i.e. between the total z Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana cost of electricity and revenues generated from (DDUGJY) supplying power) to zero by 2024-25. z Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)

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z Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) Small Industries Development Bank of India 2015 for the Union Territories of Jammu & ¾ SIDBI set up in April 1990 under an Act of Indian Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. Parliament, acts as the Principal Financial Institution € Solarization of Agricultural Feeders: The Scheme for Promotion, Financing and Development of the has a major focus on improving electricity supply for MSME sector as well as for coordination of functions the farmers and for providing daytime electricity to of institutions engaged in similar activities. them through solarization of agricultural feeders. TransUnion CIBIL Limited z This Scheme converges with the PM-KUSUM ¾ It is a credit information company operating in India. Scheme, which aims to solarize all feeders, and It maintains credit files on 600 million individuals provide avenues for additional income to farmers. and 32 million businesses. € Smart Metering: A key feature of the Scheme is to enable consumer empowerment by way of € In Financial Year (FY) 2021, the country disbursed prepaid Smart metering to be implemented in loans worth Rs 9.5 lakh crore to MSME sector, Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode. higher than preceding year of Rs 6.8 lakh crore z Smart meters would allow consumers to monitor in FY 2020. their electricity consumption on a routine basis ¾ Outstanding Credit: instead of monthly basis, which can help them € MSME credit outstanding has grown by 6.6% in in usage of electricity as per their own needs March’21, with the micro segment growing the and in terms of the resources available. fastest at 7.4% z It is proposed to install approximately 10 crore z Micro segment was followed by the small prepaid Smart Meters by December, 2023 in segment at 6.8% and medium segment at 5.8%. the first phase. ¾ Sector Wise Analysis: € Leveraging Technology: Artificial Intelligence € Agriculture and Allied Activities: would be leveraged to prepare system generated z Credit to agriculture and allied activities energy accounting reports. continued to perform well, registering an z This will enable DISCOMs to take informed accelerated growth of 11.4% in June 2021, decisions on loss reduction, demand forecasting, compared to 2.4% in June 2020. Time of Day (ToD) tariff, Renewable Energy (RE) € Industry: Integration and for other predictive analysis. z Within industry, credit to food processing, gems & jewellery, glass & glassware, leather & leather Credit Growth for MSMEs products, mining & quarrying, paper & paper products, rubber, plastic & their products, and textiles registered high growth in June 2021. Why in News z However, credit growth to all engineering, According to a report from TransUnion Cibil and beverages & tobacco, basic metal & metal Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), there products, cement & cement products, chemicals has been a growth in the credit outstanding amount of & chemical products, construction, infrastructure, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector to petroleum coal products & nuclear fuels and Rs 20.21 lakh crore, with a year-on-year growth rate of vehicles, vehicle parts & transport equipment 6.6%. decelerated or contracted. ¾ Even according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), € Services: credit growth to micro and small industries accelerated z Credit growth to the services sector decelerated to 6.4% in June 2021, compared to a contraction of to 2.9% in June 2021, from 10.7% in June 2020, 2.9% in 2020. mainly due to contraction in credit growth to commercial real estate, Non-Banking Financial Key Points Companies (NBFCs) and tourism, hotels & ¾ Loans to MSMEs: restaurants.

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z Credit to trade segment continued to perform well, registering accelerated growth of Factoring Regulation 11.1% in June 2021 as compared to 8.1% a (Amendment) Bill, 2021 year ago. ¾ Reason for Growth: Why in News € The rise in credit offtake by MSMEs is due to a host of government initiatives like theEmergency Recently, Rajya Sabha has passed the Factoring Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) to tackle Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to bring changes in the economic downturn created by the Covid the legislation aimed at helping the Micro, Small and pandemic. Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. z ECLGS scheme was launched as part of ¾ It has incorporated many suggestions from the UK the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package Sinha Committee. announced in May 2020 to mitigate the distress caused by coronavirus-induced lockdown, by Factoring business providing credit to different sectors, especially ¾ Factoring business is a business where an entity MSMEs acquires the receivables of another entity for an z It’s objectivewas to support small businesses amount. struggling to meet their operational liabilities € Note that credit facilities provided by a bank due to the imposition of a nationwide lockdown. against the security of receivables are not z Recently, the government has widened its considered as factoring business. scope to new sectors, including hospitality, ¾ Factor can be a bank, a registered non-banking travel and tourism. financial company or any company registered under ¾ Other Initiatives for MSMEs: the Companies Act. € Prime Minister’s Employment Generation ¾ Receivables is the total amount that is owed or programme (PMEGP) yet to be paid by the customers (referred as the € Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional debtors) to the assignor for the use of any goods, Industries (SFURTI) services or facility. € A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) Key Points € Interest Subvention Scheme for Incremental ¾ Key Provisions of the Bill: Credit to MSMEs € Change in the Definitions: € Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small z It amends the definitions of “receivables”, Enterprises “assignment”, and “factoring business” to € CHAMPIONS portal bring them at par with international definitions. € MSME Samadhan € Relaxation to NBFCs’ Factoring Threshold:

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z The bill seeks to amend the Factoring Regulation z MSMEs are facing difficulty due to delay in Act, 2011 to widen the scope of entities which receivables and this bill will help in ensuring can engage in factoring business. smoother working capital cycle and healthier z The current law which gave the Reserve Bank cash flow. of India authority to allow non-bank finance € It will liberalise the restrictive provisions in the companies to remain in factoring business only Act and at the same time ensure that a strong if it was their principal business. regulatory/oversight mechanism is put in place „ That is, more than half of assets were to be through the RBI. deployed and income earned from factoring ¾ UK Sinha Committee: business. € The Reserve Bank had set up an eight-member z The Bill removes this threshold and opens up expert committee under the leadership of the the opportunity in this business to more non- former chairman of Securities and Exchange Board bank lenders at a time small businesses are of India (SEBI), UK Sinha to review the framework facing financial stress. for the MSME sector, in 2019. € TReDS to Register Charges: € It has made recommendations with regard to amendments in MSME Development Act, z The Bill states that where trade receivables are financed through Trade Receivables strengthening of financial delivery mechanism, Discounting System (TReDS), the details improving marketing support, encouraging regarding transactions should be filed with the technology adoption and strengthening of cluster development support for MSMEs etc. Central Registry by the concerned TReDS, on behalf of the factor. „ TReDS is an electronic platform for facilitating AERA Amendment Bill, 2021 financing of trade receivables of MSMEs. € RBI to Regulate: Why in News z It empowers Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Airports Economic regulations for granting registration certificates Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) Amendment Bill, to a factor, filing of transaction details with the 2021. Central Registry and all other matters. ¾ It was first introduced in March 2021 and subsequently € No time-bound Registration: referred to a parliamentary standing committee on , which approved it z It removes the 30-day time period for the factors transport, tourism and culture to register the details of every transaction without any changes. entered by them. The registering authority for ¾ It seeks to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory such transactions is the Central Registry setup Authority of India Act, 2008. under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002. ¾ Significance: € Allowing non-NBFC factors and other entities to undertake factoring is expected to increase the supply of funds available to small businesses. € This may result in bringing down the cost of funds and enable greater access to the credit-starved small businesses, ensuring timely payments against their receivables. € MSMEs will get the easier liquidity which will help in their operation.

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Key Points € To ensure that private airport operators do not misuse their monopoly, the need for an indepen- ¾ Major Provisions: dent tariff regulator in the airport sector was felt. € Definition: ¾ About: z It proposes to amend the definition of major € The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of airport to include a group of airports. India Act, 2008 (AERA Act) was passed which set „ The 2008 Act designates an airport as a major up the AERA as a statutory body . airport if it has an annual passenger traffic € It was set up, keeping in mind that the country of at least 35 lakh. needs to have an independent regulator who „ The central government may also designate has transparent rules and can take care of the any airport as a major airport by a notification. interests of the service providers as well as that € Tariff: of the consumers. z It will allow AERA to regulate tariff and other ¾ Functions: charges for aeronautical services for not just € The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges major airports with annual passenger traffic of (development fee and passenger service fee) for more than 35 lakh, but also a group of airports. aeronautical services (air traffic management, € Profitable Clubbing: landing and parking of aircraft, ground handling z The government will be able to club profitable services) at major airports. and non-profitable airports as a combination/ package to bidders to make it a viable combination Non-Bank PSPs to Join for investment under PPP (Public-Private Centralised Payment System Partnership) mode. ¾ Significance: Why in News € It will help in expanding the air connectivity to Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed relatively remote areas and as a result, expediting non-bank Payment System Providers (PSPs) to participate the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. in Centralised Payment Systems (CPS - RTGS and NEFT), € It will encourage development of smaller airports. as direct members. ¾ Concern: € Lack of clarity in the bill on the criterion for deciding Key Points which airports will be clubbed together to qualify ¾ Allowed in a Phased Manner: under ‘a group of airports’ definition, whether € In the first phase, PSPs such asPrepaid Payment it will be the passenger traffic of more than 3.5 Instruments (PPIs), card networks and White million or some other factors too. Label ATM (WLA) operators will be allowed access. z ATMs set up, owned and operated by non-banks Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India are called WLAs. ¾ Background: € Presently, only banks and select non-banks such € Initially, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was as NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and running and managing the airports. After some Rural Development) and Exim Bank (Export-Import time, a change was made in the civil aviation policy Bank of India) are allowed access to CPS owned as some private players were also given airports by RBI – NEFT and RTGS. to run. The reason behind this was to provide ¾ Separate IFSC to Non-Banks: consumers with great services. € It means allotment of a separate Indian Financial € Typically, airports run the risk of becoming a System Code (IFSC) to non-banks, opening a monopoly because cities usually have one civilian current account with the RBI in its core banking airport which controls all aeronautical services in system (e-Kuber) and maintaining a settlement that area. account with the RBI.

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z represents the 11 digit character code that IFSC € Real time means the processing of instructions at helps identify the individual bank branches that the time they are received and gross settlement participate in the various online money transfer implies that settlement of funds transfer options like NEFT and RTGS. instructions occurs individually. z Core Banking System is a solution that enables ¾ NEFT: It is an electronic fund transfer system in banks to offer a multitude of customer-centric which the transactions received up to a particular services on a 24x7 basis. time are processed in batches. € It will also mean membership of Indian Financial € It is generally used for fund transfers of up to Network (INFINET) and use of Structured Financial Rs. 2 lakh. Messaging System (SFMS) to communicate with CPS. ¾ The decentralised payment systems will include z INFINET is a membership-only Closed User clearing houses managed by RBI (Cheque Truncation Group (CUG) Network that comprises the RBI, System (CTS) centres) as well as other banks (Express Member Banks and Financial Institutions. Cheque Clearing System (ECCS) centres) and any z SFMS is India’s backbone for inter-bank financial other system as decided by RBI from time to time. messaging & CPS. E-Kuber ¾ Significance: ¾ e-Kuber is the Core Banking Solution of the Reserve € Minimizing risk of payment ecosystem: Bank of India which was introduced in 2012. z Direct access for non-banks to CPS lowers the ¾ The centralisation thus makesa “one-stop” shop for overall risk in the payments ecosystem. financial services a reality. Using CBS, customers can € Reduction in cost of payments: access their accounts from any branch, anywhere, z It also brings advantages to non-banks like irrespective of where they have physically opened reduction in cost of payments, minimising their accounts. dependence on banks, reducing the time taken ¾ Almost all branches of commercial banks, including for completing payments. the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), are brought into € Mitigating failure or delay in fund execution: the core-banking fold. z Risk of failure or delay in execution of fund ¾ The e-kuber system can be accessed either through transfers can also be avoided when the INFINET or Internet. transactions aredirectly initiated and processed by the non-bank entities. DICGC Bill, 2021 € Increasing efficiency and better risk management: z Non-bank entities shall transfer funds from their Current Account to RTGS Settlement Why in News Account and vice versa during the operating Recently, the Union Cabinet has cleared the Deposit hours. Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) z It will increase efficiency, innovations, improve Bill, 2021. standards of data security as well as better risk ¾ The failure of banks such as Punjab and Maharashtra management. Co-operative (PMC) Bank,Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank reignited the debate on the low level of Centralised & Decentralised Payment Systems insurance against the deposits held by customers in ¾ CPS in India are Real Time Gross Settlement Indian banks. (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) systems, both owned and operated by the Note: Reserve Bank. ¾ Deposit Insurance: It is a protection cover against ¾ RTGS: It enables real-time transfer of funds to a losses accruing to bank deposits if a bank fails beneficiary’s account and is primarily meant for financially and has no money to pay its depositors large-value transactions. and has to go in for liquidation.

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¾ Credit Guarantee: It is the guarantee that often € It has been raised from 10 paise for every Rs 100 provides for a specific remedy to the creditor if his deposit, to 12 paise and a limit of 15 paise has debtor does not return his debt. been imposed. € This is only an enabling provision and the deter- Key Points mination of an increase in the premium payable would involve consultations with the RBI and ¾ Coverage: require government approval. € The bill will cover 98.3% of depositors and 50.9% of deposit value in the banking system, way above Deposit Insurance and the global level of 80% and 20-30%, respectively. Credit Guarantee Corporation € It will cover all types of banks, which also include ¾ About: regional rural banks and co-operative banks. € It came into existence in 1978 after the merger € It will cover banks already under moratorium of Deposit Insurance Corporation (DIC) and and those that could come under moratorium. Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. z Moratorium is a legally authorized period of (CGCI) after passing of the Deposit Insurance delay in the performance of a legal obligation and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961 or the payment of a debt. by the Parliament. ¾ Insurance Cover: € It serves as a deposit insurance and credit € It will provide funds up to Rs 5 lakh to an account guarantee for banks in India. holder within 90 days in the event of a bank coming € It is a fully owned subsidiary of and is governed under the moratorium imposed by the Reserve by the RBI. Bank of India (RBI). ¾ Coverage: z Earlier, account holders had to wait for years till € Banks, including regional rural banks, local area the liquidation or restructuring of a distressed banks, foreign banks with branches in India, and lender to get their deposits that are insured cooperative banks, are mandated to take deposit against default. insurance cover with the DICGC. z The Rs 5-lakh deposit insurance cover was raised ¾ Types of Deposits Covered: from Rs 1 lakh in 2020. € DICGC insures all bank deposits, such as saving, „ The Damodaran Committee on ‘Customer fixed, current, recurring, etc. except the following Services in Banks’ (2011) had recommended types of deposits. a five-time increase in the cap to Rs. 5 lakh z Deposits of foreign Governments. due to rising income levels and increasing size of individual bank deposits. z Deposits of Central/State Governments. z deposits. € Within the first 45 days of the bank being put Inter-bank under moratorium, the DICGC would collect all z Deposits of the State Land Development Banks information relating to deposit accounts. In the with the State co-operative banks. next 45 days, it will review the information and z Any amount due on account of any deposit repay depositors within a maximum of 90 days. received outside India. ¾ Insurance Premium: z Any amount which has been specifically € It permits raising the deposit insurance premium exempted by the corporation with the previous by 20% immediately, and maximum by 50%. approval of the RBI. z The premium is paid by banks to the DICGC. The ¾ Funds: Insured banks pay advance insurance premiums € The Corporation maintains thefollowing funds : to the corporation semi-annually within two z Deposit Insurance Fund months from the beginning of each financial z Credit Guarantee Fund half year, based on their deposits as at the end of previous half year. z General Fund

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processing, independent appeal mechanism, € The first two are funded respectively by the insurance premia and guarantee fees received expedited shipments, automated customs system, and are utilised for settlement of the respective among others. claims. € A higher score for a country helps businesses in € The General Fund is utilised for meeting the their investment decisions. establishment and administrative expenses of € The UN Regional Commissions jointly conduct the Corporation. the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. UN’s Survey on € The Survey currently covers 143 economies around the globe. For Asia Pacific, it is conducted Digital and Sustainable by UNESCAP. Trade Facilitation 2021 ¾ Assessment of India: € It pointed out India’s improvement in the scores Why in News on all five key indicators. z Transparency:100% in 2021 (from 93.33% in Recently, India has scored 90.32% in United Nations 2019) Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable z Formalities: 95.83% in 2021 (from 87.5% in Trade Facilitation. 2019) ¾ This is a remarkable jump from 78.49% in 2019. z Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation: 88.89% in 2021 (from 66.67% in 2019) Key Points z Paperless Trade: 96.3% in 2021 (from 81.48% ¾ About Survey: in 2019). € The survey is conducted every two years by z Cross-Border Paperless Trade: 66.67% in 2021 UNESCAP and includes an assessment of 58 trade (from 55.56% in 2019). facilitation measures covered by theWorld Trade € Comparison with Other Countries: Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. z India is the best performing nationas compared € 58 measures include publications of existing import- to the South and South West Asia region (63.12 export rules on the internet, risk management, %) and Asia Pacific region (65.85%). advance ruling on tariff classification, pre-arrival z The overall score of India is also greater than many OECD (Organisation for Economic Coop- eration and Development) countries including France, UK, Canada, Norway, Finland etc. and the overall score is greater than the average score of the EU (European Union). € Cause of Improvement: z The CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has been at forefront of path breaking reforms under the umbrella of ‘Turant’ Customs to usher in a Faceless, Paperless and Contactless Customs by way of a series of reforms. z During the Covid-19 pandemic, Customs formations worked to expedite imports such as oxygen-related equipment, life-saving medicines, vaccines etc.

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United Nations’ Economic and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ¾ It is a reform enacted in 2016. It amalgamates ¾ About: It is a regional development arm of the various laws relating to the insolvency resolution United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. of business firms. ¾ Members: It has 53 Member States and 9 Associate ¾ It lays down clear-cut and faster insolvency Members from Asia-Pacific Region. India is also a proceedings to help creditors, such as banks, member. recover dues and prevent bad loans, a key drag on ¾ Established: 1947 the economy. ¾ Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand Key Words ¾ Objective: To overcome some of the region’s ¾ Insolvency: It is a situation where individuals or greatest challenges by providing results-oriented companies are unable to repay their outstanding projects, technical assistance and capacity building debt. to member States. ¾ Bankruptcy: It is a situation whereby a court of ¾ Recent report: ‘Economic and Social Survey of competent jurisdiction has declared a person or Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-Covid-19 other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate resilient economies’. orders to resolve it and protect the rights of the creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability Insolvency and Bankruptcy to pay off debts. € The PIRP also allows for a Swiss challenge to Code (Amendment Bill), 2021 the resolution plan submitted by a CD in case operational creditors are not paid 100 % of their Why in News outstanding dues. z A is a method of bidding, often Recently, the government introduced the Insolvency Swiss Challenge used in public projects, in which an interested and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment Bill), 2021 in the Lok party initiates a proposal for a contract or the Sabha. bid for a project. ¾ The Bill is set to replace the Insolvency and Bankruptcy ¾ About PIRP: Code Amendment Ordinance 2021 promulgated in April 2021. € A pre-pack is the resolution of the debt of a dis- tressed company through an agreement between € It introduced an alternate insolvency resolution secured creditors and investors instead of a public process for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises bidding process. (MSMEs) with defaults up to Rs 1 crore called the z This system of insolvency proceedings has Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP). become an increasingly popular mechanism ¾ In March 2021 a sub-committee of the Insolvency for insolvency resolution in the UK and Europe Law Committee (ILC) recommended a pre-pack over the past decade. framework within the basic structure of the Insolvency € Pre-packs are largely aimed at providing MSMEs and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. with an opportunity to restructure their liabilities and start with a clean slate while still providing Key Points adequate protections so that the system is not ¾ Major Provisions: misused by firms to avoid making payments to € Distressed Corporate Debtors (CDs) are permitted creditors. to initiatea PIRP with the approval of two-thirds € Unlike in the case of Corporate Insolvency Reso- of their creditors to resolve their outstanding debt lution Process (CIRP), debtors remain in control under the new mechanism. of their distressed firm during the PIRP. z A CD is a corporate person who owes debt to € Under the pre-pack system, financial creditors will any other person. agree to terms with a potential investor and seek

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approval of the resolution plan from theNational in CIRP, hence avoids the cost of disruption of Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).. business and continues to retain employees, ¾ Need of Pre-Packs: suppliers, customers, and investors. € CIRP is a time taking resolution. At the end of € Addresses the entire liability side: December 2020, over 86% of the 1717 ongoing z PIRP will help CD to enter into consensual insolvency resolution proceedings had crossed restructuring with lenders and address the the 270-day threshold. entire liability side of the company. z Under the IBC, stakeholders are required to ¾ Challenges of PIRP: complete the CIRP within 330 days of the € Raising additional capital: initiation of insolvency proceedings. z Initially CDs may not raise additional capital z One of the key reasons behind delays in the or debt from Investors or Banks, because of CIRPs are prolonged litigations by erstwhile the risk involved in recovering the money being promoters and potential bidders. provided by these Investors and lenders. ¾ Key Features of Pre-Packs: € Small timeline: € Insolvency Practitioner: z Resolution Plan under PIRP is 90 days with an z Pre-Pack usually requires services of an additional 30 days to AA (Adjudicating Authority) insolvency practitioner to assist the stakeholders for support of the scheme. It is challenging for in the conduct of the process. CoC (Committee of Creditors) members to z The extent of authority of the practitioner decide on the Base resolution Plan within this varies across jurisdictions. short period without any broad parameters on € Consensual Process: which the Resolution Plan be approved. z It envisages a consensual process - prior understanding among or approval by stakeholders World Economic Outlook: IMF about the course of action to address stress of a CD, before invoking the formal part of the process. Why in News € No requirement of Court Approval: The latest edition of the International Monetary z It does not always require approval of a court. Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook has cut its 2021 Wherever it requires approval, the courts often growth forecast for India to 9.5% from 12.5% estimated get guided by commercial wisdom of the parties. earlier in April 2021. z Outcome of the pre-pack process, where ¾ While re-calibrating its forecast IMF considered two approved by the court, is binding on all major factors which are access to vaccines and risk stakeholders. of new Corona-variants. ¾ Benefits of pre-packs: Key Points € Quick resolution: ¾ z It is limited to a maximum of 120 days with Indian Economy: only 90 days available to the stakeholders to € Indian economy is expected to grow by 9.5% in bring the resolution plan to the NCLT. 2021 and 8.5% in 2022 (larger than the 6.9% it z Besides offering a way for MSMEs to restructure had projected in April). their debts, the pre-pack scheme could also z In 2020, India’s economy witnessed an estimated reduce the burden on benches of the NCLT contraction of 8%. by offering a faster resolution mechanism than € The IMF has cut its growth forecast because of ordinary CIRPs. the Covid-19 Second Wave that hit the recovery € Minimises Disruptions to the Business: momentum, damaging consumer confidence and z Existingmanagement retains control in the case rural demand. of pre-packs rather than resolution professionals ¾ Global Economy:

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€ Retained its global growth forecast at 6% for the ¾ The IMF’s primary purpose is to ensure the stability year 2021, and it is expected to grow at 4.9 % for of the international monetary system — the system the year 2022. of exchange rates and international payments that z In 2020, the global economy contracted by 3.3% enables countries (and their citizens) to transact ¾ Global Trade Volume: with each other. € Revised up its predictions of global trade volume € The Fund’s mandate was updated in 2012 to growth by a sharp 130 bps for 2021 to 9.7 % and include all macroeconomic and financial sector 50 bps for 2022 to 7%. issues that bear on global stability. z India is set to benefit from an expected rise ¾ Reports by IMF: in global trade prospects once its supply side € Global Financial Stability Report. gains traction. € World Economic Outlook. ¾ Suggestions: World Economic Outlook € Tighter External Financial Conditions: ¾ It is a survey by the IMF that is usually published z Emerging markets should prepare for possibly twice a year in the months of April and October. tighter external financial conditions by ¾ It analyzes and predicts global economic develop- lengthening debt maturities where possible ments during the near and medium term. and limiting the buildup of unhedged foreign ¾ In response to the growing demand for more currency debt. frequent forecast updates, the WEO Update is € Avoid Premature Tightening Policies: published in January and July between the two z Central banks should avoid premature tightening main WEO publications released usually in April policies when faced with transitory inflation and October. pressures but should be prepared to move quickly if inflation expectations show signs of de-anchoring. Marine Aids to € Prioritize Health Spending: Navigation Bill 2021 z Fiscal policy should continue to prioritize health spending, including on vaccine production and Why in News distribution infrastructure, personnel, and public Recently, the Parliament has passed the Marine Aids health campaigns, to boost take-up. to Navigation Bill 2021. The bill will repeal the Lighthouse „ is the means by which a gov- Fiscal policy Act, 1927, an over nine-decade-old law governing the ernment adjusts its spending levels and tax traditional navigation aid, i.e. lighthouses. rates to monitor and influence a nation’s economy. Key Points International Monetary Fund ¾ Background: ¾ The IMF was set up along with the World Bank after € Uptil now, the administration and management the Second World War to assist in the reconstruction of Lighthouse and Lightships in India is governed of war-ravaged countries. by Lighthouse Act 1927 for safe navigation. € The two organisations were agreed to be set € Lighthouses serve two main purposes viz. as a up at a conference in Bretton Woods in the US. navigational aid and to warn boats of dangerous Hence, they are known as the Bretton Woods areas. twins. z It is like a traffic sign on the sea. ¾ Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and € However, as the technology evolved, systems were accountable to the 190 countries that make up put in place where with the help of Radar and th its near-global membership. India joined on 27 other sensors, vessels were advised from shore December, 1945. about the position.

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z Thus, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) came into and non-compliance with directives issued by the existence and found wide acceptability. Central Government and other bodies. € These modern, technologically improved aids to ¾ Intended Benefits: marine navigation systems have changed their € Improved Legal Framework for Matters related profile from a passive’‘ service to that of ‘passive to Aids to Navigation & Vessel Traffic Services as well as interactive’ service. and covers the future developments in the field € The need for enactment of a new Act is necessitated of Marine Navigation. to provide an appropriate statutory framework € Management of ‘Vessel Traffic Services’ for which reflects the modern role of marine aids to enhancing the safety and efficiency of shipping navigation and to be in compliance with India’s and to protect the environment. obligations under International Conventions. € Skill development through Training and Certification ¾ Salient Features of the Bill: for the operators of ‘Aids to Navigation’ and ‘Vessel € Main Objectives: Traffic Services’ at par with International standards. z Incorporating the global best practices and € Auditing and Accreditation of Institutes to cater technological developments, to the need of Training and Certification at par z Complying with India’s International obligations with global standards. in the field of Marine Aids to Navigation, € Marking of “Wreck” in general waters to identify z Making the legislative framework user-friendly , sunken / stranded vessels for safe and efficient z Promoting ease of doing business. navigation. € Scope of the Law: The Bill applies to the whole of € Development of Lighthouses for the purpose India including various maritime zones including of education, culture and tourism, which would territorial waters, continental shelf, andexclusive tap the tourism potential of coastal regions and economic zone. contribute to their economy. € Defined Mechanism: It defines aid to navigation as a device, system or service, external to vessels, SLDE and GHG Calculator designed and operated to enhance safe and efficient navigation of individual vessels and vessel traffic. Why in News z Vessel traffic service means a service imple- mented under the Act to improve the safety Recently, the government has launched the Secured and efficiency of vessel traffic and to protect Logistics Document Exchange (SLDE) along with a the environment. Calculator for GreenHouse Gas (GHG) Emissions to boost € Institutional Mechanism: The Bill provides that Ease-Of-Doing Business in the country. the Central government shall appoint a Director ¾ In World Bank’s Ease-Of-Doing Business Report, 2020 General, who will inter alia advise the central India was ranked 63 out of 190 countries. government on matters related to aids to navigation. Key Points z It also provides for appointments of Deputy Director Generals and Directors for districts. ¾ Secured Logistics Document Exchange: € Heritage Lighthouse: The Bill empowers the Central € The SLDE platform is a solution to replace the Government to designate any aid to navigation present manual process of generation, exchange under its control as a “heritage lighthouse”. and compliance of logistics documents with a z In addition to their function as aids to naviga- digitized, secure and seamless document exchange tion, such lighthouses will be developed for system. educational, cultural, and tourism purposes. € It will enable generation, storage and interchange € Offences and Penalties: It comprises a new schedule of logistics-related documents digitally using of offences, along with commensurate penalties for Aadhaar and blockchain-based security protocols obstructing and damaging the aids to navigation, for data security and authentication.

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€ It will also provide a complete audit trail of € Multimodal Logistics Park: document transfer, faster execution of transactions, z The park will reduce trade cost by 10% and lower cost of shipping and overall carbon footprint, have cargo capacity of 13 million metric tons easy verification of authenticity of documents, (MMT) per year. lowered risk of fraud, etc. € Fast Tracking Freight in India: ¾ GreenHouse Gas Emission Calculator: z Recently it was launched to make goods transport € The GHG Calculator is an efficient, user-friendly cost-effective and to reduce India’s logistics cost. tool and provides for calculatingand comparing € Port Community System ‘PCS1x’: GHG emissions across different modes. z The platform has the potential to revolutionize € It allows for commodity-wise comparison of GHG maritime trade in India and bring it at par emissions and total cost of transportation, including with global best practices and pave the way their environmental cost, between movement by to improve the Ease of Doing Business world road and rail. ranking and LPI ranks. € The tool is intended to facilitate appropriate modal choice for all concerned. Promoting Digital Banking ¾ Benefits: € Improved Efficiency: Why in News z Initiatives will improve logistics efficiency, reduce Recently, the Union Minister of State for Finance logistics cost, and promote multi-modality and has stated in the Rajya Sabha that the Government has sustainability in a big way, also help fill the gap taken a number of steps to facilitate digital banking, areas where no action has yet been taken either doorstep banking services and digital lending platforms. by private players or any of the line ministries. € Achieving Targets: Key Points z It will help achieve the targets of improved India’s ¾ Digital Banking: ranking in Logistics Performance Index (LPI), € It is the digitization (or moving online) of all the reduction in logistics cost and establishment of traditional banking activities and programs services indigenous India-specific metrics for continual that were historically only available to customers improvement in logistics. when physically inside of a bank branch. th „ India ranked 44 on the LPI in 2018. € This includes activities like Money Deposits, ¾ Related Initiatives: Withdrawals, and Transfers, Checking/Saving € Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC): Account Management, Applying for Financial Products, Loan Management, Bill Pay, Account z It is a high speed and high capacity railway Services. corridor that is exclusively meant for the transportation of freight, or in other words, ¾ Challenges: goods and commodities. € Internet access is not the only barrier to adoption € National Logistics Law 2020: of digital payments. z It aims to streamline the logistics ecosystem in € Educating users as well as ensuring the security the country, with a view to promote growth of of their data is essential. the sector and also to add impetus to enhance ¾ Initiatives Highlighted: export competitiveness and ranking in LPI. € EASE Reforms Agenda: It was launched in January € Logix India 2019: 2018 jointly by the government and PSBs. z It was organized by the Ministry of Commerce z It was commissioned through Indian Banks’ & Industry and the Federation of Indian Export Association and authored by Boston Consulting Organisations (FIEO) as an initiative to improve Group. logistics cost effectiveness and operational z EASE Agenda is aimed at institutionalizing efficiencies for India’s global trade. CLEAN and SMART banking.

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z EASE Reforms Index: The Index measures € Jeevan Pramaan’ Initiative: performance of each PSB on 120+ objective z This initiative for pensioners has enabled senior metrics. The goal is to continue driving change citizen pensioners the facility to update their by encouraging healthy competition among PSBs. annual life certificate online. z EASE 1.0: The EASE 1.0 report showed significant € Doorstep Banking Services: improvement in PSB performance in resolution z PSB Alliance, an initiative of allPSBs and Indian of Non Performing Assets (NPAs) transparently. Banks’ Association, has launched doorstep z EASE 2.0: EASE 2.0 builds on the foundation banking services for all customers. of EASE 1.0 and introduced new reform Action z Through ‘Door Step Banking’, customers can Points across six themes to make reforms journey avail major Banking transaction services at irreversible, strengthen processes and systems, and drive outcomes. their Doorstep. ¾ „ The six themes of EASE 2.0 are: Responsible Current Status: Banking; Customer Responsiveness; Credit € Now, nearly 72% of financial transactions of PSBs Off-take, PSBs as UdyamiMitra (SIDBI portal are done through digital channels, with doubling for credit management of MSMEs); Financial of customers active on digital channels from 3.4 Inclusion & Digitalisation; and Governance crore in FY 2019-20 to 7.6 crore in FY 2020-21. and Human Resource (HR). € The share of financial transactions undertaken z Ease 3.0: It seeks to enhance ease of banking through home and mobile channels has increased in all customer experiences, using technology from 29% in FY 2018-19 to 76% in FY 2020-21. viz. Dial-a-loan, Partnerships with FinTechs and E-commerce companies, Credit@click, Tech-enabled agriculture lending, EASE Banking New Facilities Under Outlets etc. Strategic Petroleum Reserves z Ease 4.0: State-run banks will focus on co-lending with non-banking firms, digital agriculture Why in News financing, synergies and technological resilience for 24x7 banking as part of their reforms agenda Recently, under the Strategic Petroleum Reserves for this fiscal, Ease 4.0. (SPR) programme, the government has given approval for establishing two additional facilities. € PSBloansin59 minutes.com: ¾ z Initiation of digital lending has been made In 2020, India filled its strategic petroleum reserves contactless through PSBloansin59 minutes.com, in view of the slump in crude prices. using triangulation of credit bureau, income- Key Points tax and goods and services tax (GST) data, to provide online in principle approval for Micro, ¾ New Facilities: Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) loans. € The new facilities will becommercial-cum-strategic € Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) facilities with a total storage capacity of 6.5 Platform: MMT(Million Metric Ton) underground storages at: z Online bill discounting for MSMEs has been z Chandikhol, Odisha (4 MMT) enabled on a competitive basisthrough Public z Padur, Karnataka (2.5 MMT) Sector Banks (PSBs) onboarding onto the € They will be built in Public Private Partnership TReDS platform and the proportion of online mode under phase II of the SPR Programme. discounted bills has grown rapidly. ¾ Existing Facilities: „ Bill Discounting is a trade-related activity in which a company’s unpaid invoices which € Under Phase I of the Programme, Government of are due to be paid at a future date are sold India has established petroleum storage facilities to a financier (a bank or another financial with total capacity of 5.33 MMT at 3 locations: institution). z Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (1.33 MMT).

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z Mangaluru, Karnataka (1.5 MMT). € Thus, Approximately a total of 87 days (22 by z Padur, Karnataka (2.5 MMT). strategic reserves + 65 by Indian refiners) of oil € The petroleum reserves established under Phase I consumption will be made available in India after are strategic in nature and the crude oil stored in completion of Phase II of the SPR programme. these reserves will be used during an oil shortage This will be very close to the 90 days mandate event, as and when declared so by the Government by the IEA. of India. ¾ Need of SPRs in India: € Build Sufficient Capacity: Strategic Petroleum Reserves z The current capacity of this is not sufficient to ¾ About: tackle any unpredicted event that occurs in the € Strategic petroleum reserves are huge stockpiles international crude market. of crude oil to deal with any crude oil-related z 86% of the country is dependent on oil with crisis like the risk of supply disruption from natural nearly 5 million barrels of oil consumption disasters, war or other calamities. in a day. € According to the agreement on an International € Energy Security: Energy Programme (I.E.P.), each International z The fluctuation in the price of crude oil in the Energy Agency (IEA) country has an obligation to international market leads to a dire need for hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least India to make petroleum reserves to ensure the 90 days of net oil imports. country’s energy security and avoid monetary z In case of a severe oil supply disruption, IEA loss. members may decide to release these stocks to the market as part of a collective action. Tackling the z India became an associate member of the IEA in 2017. Menace of Black Money € The concept of dedicated strategic reserves was first mooted in 1973 in the US, after the Why in News OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Recently, the has Countries) oil crisis. Union Minister of State for Finance stated in Lok Sabha that the government’s black money € Underground storage is, by far, the most economical law has helped detect several instances where Indians method of storing petroleum products because the have been found stashing undisclosed income overseas. underground facility rules out the requirement of large swathes of land, ensures less evaporation Key Points and, since the caverns are built much below the ¾ sea level, it is easy to discharge crude into them Black Money: from ships. € There is no official definition of black money in € The construction of the Strategic Crude Oil Storage economic theory, with several different terms facilities in India is being managed by Indian such as parallel economy, black money, black Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL). incomes, unaccounted economy, illegal economy and irregular economy all being used more or less z ISPRL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil Industry synonymously. Development Board (OIDB) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. € The simplest definition of black money could possibly be money that is hidden from tax authorities. € After the new facilities get functional a total of 22 days (10+12) of oil consumption will be made € It can come from two broad categories: available. z Illegal Activity: € With the strategic facilities Indian refiners also „ Money that is earned through illegal activity is maintain crude oil storage (industrial stock) of obviously not reported to the tax authorities, 65 days. and so is black.

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z Legal but Unreported Activity: Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements „ The second category comprises income from (DTAAs)/Tax Information Exchange Agreements legal activity that is not reported to the tax (TIEAs)/Multilateral Conventions. authorities. z Automatic Exchange of Information: ¾ Impacts: „ India has been a leading force in the efforts € Loss of Revenue: to forge a multilateral regime for proactive z Black money eats up a part of the tax and, thus, sharing of financial information known as the government’s deficit increases. Automatic Exchange of Information which will greatly assist the global efforts to combat z The government has to balance this deficit tax evasion. by increasing taxes, decreasing subsidies and increasing borrowings. „ The Automatic Exchange of Information based on Common Reporting Standard has z Borrowing leads to a further increase in the commenced from 2017 enabling India to government’s debt due to interest burden. receive financial account information of If the government is unable to balance the Indian residents in other countries. deficit, it has to decrease spending, which affects development. z Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of USA: „ € Money Circulation: India has entered into an information sharing agreement with the USA under the act. z People generally tend to keep black money in the form of gold, immovable property and other secret manners. Suspension of z Such money does not become part of the main FCRA Certificate economy and, therefore, remains generally out of circulation. Why in News z The black money keeps circulating among the wealthy and creates more opportunities for them. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) € Higher Inflation: has challenged the suspension of its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) certificate for 180 days. z The infusion of unaccounted black money in the economy leads to higher inflation, which ¾ The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suspended obviously hits the poor the most. CHRI’s certificate in violation of various provisions of the FCRA Act. z It also increases the disparity between the rich and the poor. Key Points ¾ Government’s Initiatives: ¾ Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010: € Legislative Action: € Foreign funding of persons in India is regulated z The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 under FCRA act and is implemented by the Ministry z The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 of Home Affairs. z The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) € Individuals are permitted to accept foreign Amendment Act, 2016 contributions without permission of MHA. z The Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income z However, the monetary limit for acceptance and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 of such foreign contributions shall be less than z Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Rs. 25,000. € International Cooperation: € The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign z Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs): contributions adhere to the stated purpose for „ India is proactively engaging with foreign which such contribution has been obtained. governments with a view to facilitate and € Under the Act, organisations are required to register enhance the exchange of information under themselves every five years.

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¾ Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, € The suspension order is contrary to the framework 2020: of the scheme set out under the FCRA Act and even € Prohibition to accept foreign contribution: The the suspension was passed without initiating Act bars public servants from receiving foreign any inquiry. contributions. Public servant includes any person € The suspension order was based on wholly incorrect who is in service or paid by the government, or facts and violates basic principles of natural justice. remunerated by the government for the perfor- ¾ Issues Related to FCRA: mance of any public duty. € Scope not defined: It prohibits the receipt of foreign € Transfer of foreign contribution: The Act prohibits contributions “for any activities detrimental to the transfer of foreign contribution to any the national interest” or the “economic interest other person not registered to accept foreign of the state”. contributions. z However, there is no clear guidance on what € Aadhaar for registration: The Act makes Aadhaar constitutes “public interest”. number mandatory for all office bearers, directors € Limits Fundamental Rights: The FCRA restrictions or key functionaries of a person receiving foreign have serious consequences on both the rights contribution, as an identification document. to free speech and freedom of association € FCRA account: The Act states that foreign under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(c) of the contributions must be received only in an account Constitution. designated by the bank as FCRA account in such Commonwealth branches of the State Bank of India, New Delhi. Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) € Reduction in use of foreign contribution for ¾ CHRI is an independent, non-partisan, international administrative purposes: The Act proposes that not non-governmental organisation, working for the more than 20% of the total foreign funds received practical realisation of human rights across the could be defrayed for administrative expenses. In Commonwealth. FCRA 2010, the limit was 50%. ¾ Headquarters € Surrender of certificate: The Act allows the central € New Delhi government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate. The Commonwealth € Other Regulations: ¾ Origin: It is one of the world’s oldest political associations of states. Its roots go back to the British z Widening the Scope of Foreign Contribution: Under the issued regulations, donations given Empire when some countries were ruled directly or indirectly by Britain. in Indian rupees (INR) by any foreigner/foreign source including foreigners of Indian origin like € Some of these countries became self-governing Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of while retaining Britain’s monarch as Head of India Origin (PIO) cardholders should also be State. They formed the British Commonwealth treated as foreign contribution. of Nations. € In 1949, the Commonwealth came into being. z Meeting the Standards of FATF: The guidelines mandate that good practices should be followed Since then, independent countries from Africa, by NGOs in accordance with standards of the the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific have joined the Commonwealth. global financial watchdog- Financial Action Task Force (FATF). ¾ Membership: The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign z It asked NGOs to inform the Ministry about states. “suspicious activities” of any donor or recipient and “take due diligence of its employees at the € Membership is based on free and equal voluntary time of recruitment.” cooperation. Rwanda and Mozambique - have no historical ties to the British Empire. ¾ Argument of CHRI:

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€ The unemployment rate fell to 4.8% in 2019-20. Periodic Labour In 2018-19, it stood at 5.8% and 6.1% in 2017-18. Force Survey 2019-20 ¾ Worker Population Rate: € It improved to 38.2% in 2019-20 compared with Why in News 35.3% in 2018-19 and 34.7% in 2017-18. ¾ Labour Force Participation Ratio: Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) € It increased to 40.1% in 2019-20 from 37.5% and released the third annual report on Periodic Labour Force 36.9%, respectively, in the last two years. The Survey (PLFS), conducted between July 2019 and June higher the LFPR, the better. 2020. ¾ Gender Based Unemployment Rate: ¾ Labour indicators recorded an all-round improvement in 2019-20 compared with the previous two years i:e € The data showed the jobless rate for both male 2017-18 and 2018-19. and female fell to 5.1% and 4.2%, respectively, in 2019-20 from 6% and 5.2% in 2018-19. z WPR and LFPR also comparatively improved during the year. ¾ Periodic Labour Force Survey: € About: z It is India’s first computer-based survey launched by the NSO in 2017. z It has been constituted based on the recommendation of a committee headed by Amitabh Kundu. z It essentially maps the state of employment in the country. In doing so, it collects data on several variables such as the level of unemployment, the types of employment and National Statistical Office their respective shares, the wages earned from ¾ It is the central statistical agency of the Government different types of jobs, the number of hours mandated under the Statistical Services Act 1980 worked etc. under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme z Before PLFS, the National Sample Survey Implementation. Office (NSSO)- previous name of NSO used ¾ It is responsible for the development of arrangements to bring the data related to employment and for providing statistical information services to unemployment based on its quinquennial meet the needs of the Government and other users (every 5 year) household socio-economic survey for information on which to base policy, planning, programme. monitoring and management decisions. € Objective: € The services include collecting, compiling and z To estimate the key employment and disseminating official statistical information. unemployment indicators (viz. WPR, LFPR, ¾ Other Reports & Indices by NSO: UR) in the short time interval of three months € Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for the urban areas only in the Current Weekly € Consumer Price Index (CPI) Status (CWS). € Sustainable Development Goals National z To estimate employment and unemployment Indicator Framework Progress Report indicators in both usual status and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually. Key Points ¾ Recent Government Initiatives to Tackle Unem- ¾ Unemployment Rate: ployment:

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€ The Union government has come up with an ¾ Activity Status: economic stimulus package under Atmanirbhar € The activity status of a person is determined Bharat Abhiyan to support the Indian economy on the basis of the activities pursued by the and create jobs. person during the specified reference period. z Under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s z Usual Status: The activity status determined Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), the Union on the basis of the reference period of the Government is providing affordable loans to last 365 days preceding the date of survey, street vendors. it is known as the usual activity status of the z In 2020 the government allocated an additional person. fund of Rs 40,000 crore for MGNREGA, as part z Current Weekly Status (CWS): The activity of the stimulus package. status determined on the basis of a reference z The government is offering credit guarantees period of the last 7 days preceding the date of for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises survey is known as the current weekly status (MSMEs) which will help them in getting loans (CWS) of the person. easily and boost their functioning. z Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana to provide financial support to entrepreneurs to start Investment Climate in India small enterprises. Why in News € Various other initiatives have also been taken by the government to support the economy which Recently, the US State Department released a report includes relaxation in Companies Act and Insolvency titled ‘2021 Investment Climate Statements: India’. The proceedings, reforms in agri- marketing etc. report lauded the structural economic reforms carried by the Government of India, in the wake of economic € Government has also taken initiatives such as the slowdown and Covid-19 pandemic. New Code on Wages, 2019 to reduce gender- based discrimination in wages, recruitment and ¾ However, the report asserts that India remains a conditions of employment. challenging place to do business. ¾ Earlier, the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) € State governments have also come up with the initiative to support their economy and increase jobs. emphasized that some of the reforms under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme could have negative z Andhra Pradesh government’s ‘ReStart’ consequences for the UK and all multinational to support the MSME sector in programme companies. the State. z Jharkhand has launched three employment Key Points to create wage employment for workers schemes ¾ Recent Economic Reforms: in rural areas. € Privatization: In February 2021, the Government Key Terms of India announced plans to raise $2.4 billion ¾ Unemployment Rate (UR): through an ambitious privatization program that would dramatically reduce the government’s role ¾ It is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed in the economy. among the persons in the labour force. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): € FDI Liberalization:In August 2019, the government announced a new package of liberalization € It is defined as the percentage of persons in the measures and brought a number of sectors including labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available coal mining and contract manufacturing under the for work) in the population. automatic route. ¾ Worker Population Ratio (WPR): z In March 2021, Parliament further liberalized € It is defined as the percentage of employed India’s insurance sector, increasing the foreign persons in the population. direct investment (FDI) limits to 74% from 49%.

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€ Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: In order to combat € Other Measures for Improving Ease of Doing economic slowdown pertaining to Covid-19, the Business: Government of India launched Atmanirbhar z Invest India: It is the official investment Bharat Abhiyan. promotion and facilitation agency which works z This programme envisages extensive social with investors through their investment lifecycle welfare and economic stimulus programs to provide support with market entry strategies, and increased spending on infrastructure and industry analysis, partner search, and policy public health. advocacy as required. z Further, it aims towards cutting down import z PRAGATI Initiative: To fast-track the approval dependence by focusing on substitution while process, especially in the case of major projects, improving safety compliance and quality goods the government of India started the Pro-Active to gain global market share. Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI initiative). € PLI Scheme: The government also adopted pro- duction linked incentives to promote manufac- „ It is a digital, multi-modal platform to speed turing in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, the government’s approval process. electronics, and other sectors. ¾ Economic Policies Bothering Foregin Investors: € Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: The introduction € Controversial Decisions: Recently, the government and implementation of the Insolvency and took two controversial decisions i.e. removal of Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016 led to an overhaul special constitutional status from the state of of the previous framework on insolvency and paved Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and the passage of the the way for much-needed reforms. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019. z However, India maintains that the CAA and z Among the areas where India has improved the most in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter and that “no foreign party has any locus standi Business Ranking the past three years has been on issues pertaining to India’s sovereignty.” under the resolving insolvency metric. € New Protectionist Measures: Several sectors of € Matching Global Standards of Arbitration: The the economy continue to retain equity limits for government of India passed Arbitration and foreign capital as well as management and control Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021. restrictions, which deter investment. z The Act contains provisions to deal with domestic z For example, in 2016, India allowed up to and international arbitration and defines the 100% FDI in domestic airlines, but the issue law for conducting conciliation proceedings. of substantial ownership and effective control € Sovereign Wealth Funds: In 2016, the Indian (SOEC) rules that mandate majority control by government established the National Infrastructure Indian nationals have not yet been clarified. Investment Fund (NIIF), touted as India’s first € Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation sovereign wealth fund to promote investments Treaties: India adopted a new model Bilateral in the infrastructure sector. Investment Treaty (BIT) in December 2015, z The government agreed to contribute $3 billion following several adverse rulings in international to the fund, while an additional $3 billion will arbitration proceedings. be raised from the private sector. z The new model BIT does not allow foreign € Labour Code: In the budget 2021 the government investors to use investor-state dispute settle- announced that the four labour codes shall be ment methods, and instead requires foreign implemented in India with effect from 1st April 2021. investors first to exhaust all local judicial and z These labour codes envisage simplifying the administrative remedies before entering inter- country’s archaic labour laws and give impetus national arbitration. to economic activity without compromising € Procurement Rules that Limit Competitive Choices: with the workers’ benefits. Preferential Market Access (PMA) for government

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procurement has created substantial challenges € Addressing the Malpractices: for foreign firms operating in India. z The need for a sovereign digital currency arises z State-owned “Public Sector Undertakings” and from the anarchic design of existing crypto- the government accord a 20% price preference currencies, wherein their creation, as well as to vendors utilizing more than 50% local content. maintenance, are in the hands of the public. € Intellectual Property Rights: India remained on „ With no government supervision and ease the Priority Watch List in the 2020 Special 301 of cross-border payments, renders them Report due to concerns over weak intellectual vulnerable to malpractices like tax evasion, property (IP) protection and enforcement. terror funding, money laundering, etc. € Corruption: India, with a score of 40, ranked 86 „ By regulating digital currency, the central among 180 countries in Transparency International’s bank can put a check on their malpractices. 2020 Corruption Perception Index. € Addressing Volatility: € Other Issues: There are other issues that restrict the z As the cryptocurrencies are not pegged to any expansion in bilateral trade.For example, sanitary asset or currency, its value is solely determined and phytosanitary measures and Indian-specific by speculation (demand and supply). standards not aligned with international standards. z Due to this, there has been huge volatility in the value of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. RBI to Introduce „ As CBDCs will be pegged to any assets (like gold or fiat currency) and hence will Digital Currency not witness the volatility being seen in cryptocurrencies. Why in News € Digital Currency Proxy War: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working on a z India runs the risk of being caught up in the phased implementation strategy for its own digital whirlwind of a proxy digital currency war as currency and is in the process of launching it in wholesale the US and China battle it out to gain supremacy and retail segments in the near future. across other markets by introducing new-age ¾ A high-level inter-ministerial committee set up by financial products. the Finance Ministry had recommended Central Bank „ Today, a sovereign Digital Rupee isn’t just a Digital Currency (CBDC) with changes in the legal matter of financial innovation but a need to framework including the RBI Act, which currently push back against the inevitable proxy war empowers the RBI to regulate issuance of bank notes. which threatens our national and financial security. Key Points € Reducing Dependency on Dollar: ¾ Digital Currency: z Digital Rupee provides an opportunity for India € It is a payment method which exists only in to establish the dominance of Digital Rupee as electronic form and is not tangible. a superior currency for trade with its strategic € It can be transferred between entities or users partners, thereby reducing dependency on with the help of technology like computers, the dollar. smartphones and the internet. € Advent of Private Currency: € Although it is similar to physical currencies, digital z If these private currencies gain recognition, money allows borderless transfer of ownership as national currencies with limited convertibility well as instantaneous transactions. are likely to come under some kind of threat. € Digital currency is also known as digital money ¾ Significance: and cybercash. € It would reduce the cost of currency management € E.g. Cryptocurrency while enabling real-time payments without any ¾ Need: inter-bank settlement.

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€ India’s fairly high currency-to-GDP ratio holds € An SEZ is a territory within a country that is out another benefit of Central Bank Digital typically duty-free (Fiscal Concession) and has Currency (CBDC) - to the extent large cash usage different business and commercial laws chiefly to can be replaced by (CBDC), the cost of printing, encourage investment and create employment. transporting and storing paper currency can be € SEZs are created also to better administer these substantially reduced. areas, thereby increasing the ease of doing business. € It will also minimize the damage to the public from ¾ SEZs in India: the usage of private virtual currencies. € Asia’s first EPZ (Export Processing Zones) was ¾ Issues: established in 1965 at Kandla, Gujarat. € Some key issues under RBI’s examination include, € While these EPZs had a similar structure to SEZs, the scope of CBDCs, the underlying technology, the government began to establish SEZs in 2000 the validation mechanism and distribution under the Foreign Trade Policy to redress the architecture. infrastructural and bureaucratic challenges that € Also, legal changes would be necessary as the were seen to have limited the success of EPZs. current provisions have been made keeping in € The Special Economic Zones Act was passed in mind currency in a physical form under the Reserve 2005. The Act came into force along with the SEZ Bank of India Act. Rules in 2006. € Consequential amendments would also be required € However, SEZs were operational in India from in the Coinage Act, Foreign Exchange Management 2000 to 2006 (under the Foreign Trade Policy). Act (FEMA) and Information Technology Act. € India’s SEZs were structured closely with China’s € Sudden flight of money from a bank under stress successful model. is another point of concern. € Presently, 379 SEZs are notified,out of which 265 ¾ Recent Developments: are operational. About 64% of the SEZs are located € El Salvador, a small coastal country in Central in five states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, America, has become the first in the world to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. adopt Bitcoin, as legal tender. € The Board of Approval is the apex body and is € Britain is also exploring the possibility of creating headed by the Secretary, Department of Commerce a Central Bank Digital Currency (Britcoin). (Ministry of Commerce and Industry). € In 2020, China started testing its official digital € The Baba Kalyani led committee was constituted currency which is unofficially called “Digital Currency by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to study Electronic Payment, DC/EP”. the existing SEZ policy of India and had submitted € In April 2018, RBI banned banks and other regulated its recommendations in November 2018. entities from supporting crypto transactions after digital currencies were used for frauds. In March z It was set up with a broad objective to evaluate 2020, the Supreme Court struck down the ban the SEZ policy towards making it WTO (World as unconstitutional. Trade Organisation) -compatible and to bring in global best practices to maximise capacity utilisation and to maximise potential output Special Economic Zones of the SEZs. ¾ Objectives of the SEZ Act: Why in News € To create additional economic activity. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) have touched new € To boost the export of goods and services. heights in terms of performance in Exports, Investment € To generate employment. and Employment in the last three years. € To boost domestic and foreign investments. Key Points € To develop infrastructure facilities. ¾ About: ¾ Major Incentives and Facilities Available to SEZ:

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€ Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods companies in global tenders floated by Ministries and for development, operation and maintenance of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) for import of SEZ units. government cargo. € Exemption from various taxes like Income Tax, ¾ The scheme provides a subsidy of Rs. 1,624 crore minimum alternate tax, etc. over five years. € External commercial borrowing by SEZ units upto US $ 500 million in a year without any maturity Key Points restriction through recognized banking channels. ¾ Highlights of the Scheme: € Single window clearance for Central and State € The scheme envisages an increase in flagging and level approvals. would link access to Indian cargo to investment ¾ Performance so far: in Indian ships. € Exports: Exports of Rs. 22,840 Crore (2005-06) z Flagging in is the process of adding a vessel to has increased to Rs. 7,59,524 Crore (2020-21). the national registry and “flagging out” is the € Investment: Investment of Rs. 4,035.51 Crore (2005- process of removing a vessel from a national 06) has increased to Rs. 6,17,499 Crore (2020-21). registry. € Employment: Employment from 1,34,704 persons € The subsidy support varies from 5% to 15% of (2005-06) has increased to 23,58,136 persons the lowest quote offered by the foreign shipping (2020-21). company, depending on whether the ship was st ¾ Challenges: flagged after or before 1 February, 2021. € Unutilized Land in SEZs: € However, ships older than 20 years will not be z Due to lack of demand for SEZ space and eligible under the scheme, according to the Ministry disruptions caused by the pandemic. of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. ¾ € Existence of Multiple Models: Rationale of the Scheme: z There are multiple models of economic zones € Small Size of Indian Shipping Industry: Despite such as SEZ, coastal economic zone, Delhi- having a 7,500 km long coastline, a significant Mumbai Industrial Corridor, National Investment national EXIM (Export-Import) trade, a policy and Manufacturing Zone, food park and textile of 100% FDI in shipping since 1997, the Indian park which pose challenges in integrating the shipping industry and India’s national fleet is various models. proportionately small when compared with its € Competition from ASEAN Countries: global counterparts. z In the past few years, many of the ASEAN z Currently the Indian fleet comprises a meagre countries have tweaked their policies to attract 1.2% of the world fleet in terms of capacity. global players to invest into their SEZs and have z The share of Indian ships in the carriage of also worked on a developmental set of their India’s EXIM trade has drastically declined skilling initiatives. from 40.7% in 1987-88 to about 7.8% in 2018 z Consequently, Indian SEZs have lost some of -19. their competitive advantages globally and € Offsetting Higher Operational Costs: Currently, hence need to have fresher policies. Indian shipping industry bears relatively higher operating costs, owing to factors like higher Subsidy Scheme costs of debt funds, taxation on wages of Indian seafarers, IGST on import of ships, blocked GST to Boost Merchant Ships tax credits, etc. z In this context, these higher operational costs Why in News would be offset to a large extent through the Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a scheme subsidy support and it would be more attractive for providing subsidy support to Indian Shipping to flag merchant ships in India.

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€ Increasing Foreign Exchange Outgo: Owing to high Key Points operational costs, importing a shipping service by ¾ Revealing Former Names & Address: an Indian charterer is cheaper than contracting the € The amendment requires an Insolvency Professional services of a local shipping company. (IP) conductingCorporate Insolvency Resolution z This has led to an increase in foreign exchange Process (CIRP) to disclose all former names and outgo on account of freight bill payments to registered office address(es) so changed in the two foreign shipping companies. years preceding the commencement of insolvency ¾ Significance of the Scheme: along with the current name and registered office € Generating Employment: Increase in Indian fleet address of the Corporate Debtor (CD), in all its will provide direct employment to Indian seafarers communications and records. since Indian ships are required to employ only z CIRP includes necessary steps to revive the Indian seafarers. company such as raising fresh funds for operation, z Further, cadets wishing to become seafarers are looking for a new buyer to sell the company as required to obtain on-board training on ships. a going concern, etc. Indian ships will therefore provide training slots z CD is any corporate organization which owes for young Indian cadet boys and girls. a debt to any person. € Strategic Advantages: A policy to promote the € A CD may have changed its name or registered growth of the Indian shipping industry is also officeaddress prior to commencement of insolvency. necessary because having a bigger national fleet Therefore the stakeholders may find it difficult to would provide economic, commercial, and strategic relate to the new name or registered office address advantages to India. and consequently fail to participate in the CIRP. € Economic Advantages: A strong and diverse ¾ Appointment of Professionals: indigenous shipping fleet will not only lead to foreign € The amendment provides that the Interim exchange savings but would also reduce excessive Resolution Professional (IRP) or Resolution dependence on foreign ships for transporting Professional (RP) may appoint a professional, India’s critical cargoes. other than registered valuers, if he is of the opinion z Thus, it would help in achieving the objective that the services of such professional are required of Atmanirbhar Bharat and contribute to the and such services are not available with the CD. Indian GDP. € Such appointments shall be made on an arm’s length basis following an objective andtransparent Amendment in process. ¾ Avoidance of Transactions: IBBI Regulations 2016 € The RP is duty bound to find out if a CD has been subject to avoidance transactions,namely, pref- Why in News erential transactions, undervalued transactions, Recently, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of extortionate credit transactions, fraudulent trading India (IBBI) has amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy and wrongful trading, and file applications with the Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Adjudicating Authority seeking appropriate relief. Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016. ¾ Significance: ¾ The amendments are aimed at enhancing the € It would allow stakeholders to claw back lost discipline, transparency, and accountability in value and would disincentive stakeholders from corporate insolvency proceedings. entering into such transactions. ¾ In March 2021 a sub-committee of the Insolvency Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Law Committee (ILC) recommended a pre-pack framework within the basic structure of the Insolvency ¾ Enactment: and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. € The IBC was enacted in 2016.

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Note: z It is a key pillar of the ecosystem responsible for implementation of the Code. ¾ Insolvency: It is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding z It regulates insolvency professionals, insolvency debt. professional agencies and information utilities set up under the Code. ¾ Bankruptcy: It is a situation whereby a court of z The Board consists of representatives of the competent jurisdiction has declared a person or Reserve Bank of India, and the Ministries of other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate Finance, Corporate Affairs and Law. orders to resolve it and protect the rights of the creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability ¾ Insolvency Resolution Process: to pay off debts. € It can be initiated by any of the stakeholders of the firm (debtors/creditors/employees). If the ¾ Objective: adjudicating authority accepts, an IP is appointed. € To streamline and speed up the resolution process € The power of the management and the board of failed businesses. of the firm is transferred to the Committee of € To consolidate provisions of the existing legislative Creditors (CoC). They act through the IP. framework to form a common forum for debtors € The IP has to decide whether to revive the company and creditors of all classes to resolve insolvency. (insolvency resolution) orliquidate it (liquidation). € To stipulate that the resolution process of a € If they decide to revive, they have to find someone stressed company will have to be completed in a willing to buy the firm. maximum of 270 days. € The creditors also have to accept a significant ¾ Institutions to Facilitate Resolution of Insolvency: reduction in debt. The reduction is known as a € Insolvency Professionals: haircut. z These professionals administer the resolution € They invite open bids from the interested parties process, manage the assets of the debtor, and to buy the firm. provide information for creditors to assist them € They choose the party with the best resolution plan, in decision making. that is acceptable to the majority of the creditors (75 % in CoC), to take over the management of € Insolvency Professional Agencies: the firm. z The agencies conduct examinations to certify the insolvency professionals and enforce a code of conduct for their performance. Stand Up € Information Utilities: India Scheme z Creditors will report financial information of the debt owed to them by the debtor. Such Why in News information will include records of debt, liabilities Recently, the Ministry of Finance has extended the and defaults. Standup India Scheme up to the year 2025. € Adjudicating Authorities: z The proceedings of the resolution process are Key Points adjudicated by the National Company Law ¾ Launch: Tribunal (NCLT), for companies; and the Debt € It was launched in April 2016 to promote entre- Recovery Tribunal (DRT), for individuals. preneurship at the grass-root level focusing on z The duties of the authorities will include approval economic empowerment and job creation. to initiate the resolution process, appoint the ¾ Aim: insolvency professional, and approve the final € To leverage the institutional credit structure to decision of creditors. reach out to the underserved sector of people € Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board: such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.

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¾ Facilitates Bank Loans: Bank of India) and NABARD (National Bank for € The objective of this scheme isto facilitate bank Agriculture and Rural Development) are designated loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at Stand-Up Connect Centres (SUCC). least one SC or ST borrower and at least one ¾ Performance so far: woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled € Banks have sanctioned Rs 26,204 crore to about Commercial Banks for setting up a Greenfield 1,16,266 beneficiaries under the Scheme in the enterprise. last five years. z This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services € The scheme has benefited more than 93,094 or the trading sector. women entrepreneurs. ¾ Eligibility: € SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs; above 18 years of age. Indian Labour Conference € Loans under the scheme are available for only Greenfield projects. Why in News z A greenfield project is one which is not Recently, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (labour constrained by prior work. It is constructed on union) wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to convene unused land where there is no need to remodel the Indian Labour Conference (ILC). or demolish an existing structure. ¾ It argued that since Indian Parliament has ratified € Borrower should not be in default to any bank or Convention No 144 of the International Labour financial institution. Organisation, it is now India’s legal obligation to € In case of non-individual enterprises, at least 51% hold the ILC in order to strengthen the tripartite of the shareholding and controlling stake should be mechanism. held by either an SC/ST or Woman entrepreneur. ¾ New Changes: Key Points € The margin money requirement for loans under ¾ About: the Scheme has been reduced from ‘upto 25%’ € ILC also known as the ‘labour parliament’ of the to `upto 15%’ and activities allied to agriculture country formed on the lines of International Labour have been included in the Scheme. Conference is the apex level tripartite (Government, ¾ Connect Centers: Employers and Workers) consultative committee € The offices of SIDBI (Small Industries Development in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

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z International Labour Conference also known Convention No 144 of the ILO as International Parliament of Labour is a ¾ Convention 144 of the year 1976 which is also conference organized by ILO every year. known as the Convention on Tripartite Consultation z Each member State is represented by a delegation (International Labour Standards), promotes consisting of two government delegates, an application of an essential principle on which employer delegate, a worker delegate, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) was their respective advisers. founded which is: € The first meetingof the ILC (then called Tripartite € Tripartite social dialogue in the development and National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 implementation of international labour standards. and so far a total of 46 Sessions have been held. ¾ Tripartism in respect to international labour standards z The most recent session of which was held promotes a national culture of social dialogue on in 2015. wider social and economic issues. € The agenda of the ILC is finalised by theStanding Labour Committee which is again a tripartite body External after detailed discussions. ¾ Function: Benchmarks Lending Rate € To advise the Government on the issues concerning the working class of the country. Why in News ¾ Members: According to a recent RBI report on ‘Monetary € Central Trade Union Organisations, Central transmission in India’, the share of outstanding loans Organisations of employers, all State Governments linked to External Benchmarks Lending Rate (EBLR - like and Union Territories and Central Ministries/ repo rate), increased from as low as 2.4% during September Departments concerned with the agenda items, 2019 to 28.5% during March 2021. are the members of the ILC. ¾ This increase in EBLR linked lending will contribute ¾ Some Government Initiatives for the Working Class: to significant improvement in monetary policy transmission. € New Labour Codes, 2020 ¾ However, still71.5% of outstanding loans are Internal € Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Benchmark Lending Rate (IBLR- like base rate and € National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers MCLR) linked loans, which continues to impede the and Self-Employed Persons monetary policy transmission. € Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana Note: International Labour Organisation ¾ Transmission of Monetary Policy: The transmission ¾ It is the only tripartiteUnited Nation (UN) agency. of monetary policy describes how changes made It brings together governments, employers and by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to the policy rate workers of 187 member States (India is a member), flow through to economic activity (like lending) to set labour standards, develop policies and devise and inflation. programmes promoting decent work for all women ¾ Repo Rate: It is also known as the benchmark interest and men. rate and is the rate at which the RBI lends money to the banks for a short term. Here, the central bank € Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969. purchases security. ¾ Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of theLeague of Nations. Key Points ¾ Became the first affiliated specialized agency of ¾ Internal Benchmark Lending Rate (IBLR): the UN in 1946. € The Internal Benchmark Lending Rates are a set ¾ Headquarters: of reference lending rates which are calculated € Geneva, Switzerland after considering factors like the bank’s current

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financial overview, deposits and non performing € In the IBLR Linked Loans, the interest rate has many assets (NPAs) etc. BPLR, Base rate, MCLR are the variables including bank’s spread, their current examples of Internal Benchmark Lending Rates. financial overview, deposits and non performing € Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR): assets (NPAs) etc. z BPLR was used as a benchmark rate by banks z Due to this, such internal benchmarks did little for lending till June 2010. to facilitate any swift change in interest rates as per changes in RBI repo rate policy. z Under it, bank loans were priced on the actual cost of funds. z The opacity in interest rate setting processes under internal benchmark regime hinders z However, the BPLR was subverted, resulting in an opaque system. The bulk of wholesale credit transmission to lending rates. (loans to corporate customers) was contracted ¾ EBLR and Its Benefits: at sub-BPL rates and it comprised nearly 70% € About: of all bank credit. z To ensure complete transparency and z Under this system, banks were subsidising standardization, RBI mandated the banks to corporate loans by charging high interest rates adopt a uniform external benchmark within a from retail and small and medium enterprise loan category, effective1 st October, 2019. customers. z Unlike MCLR which was internal system for € Base Rate: each bank, RBI has offered banks the options z Loans taken between June 2010 and April 2016 to choose from 4 external benchmarking from banks were on base rate. mechanisms: z During the period, base rate was the minimum „ The RBI repo rate interest rate at which commercial banks could „ The 91-day T-bill yield lend to customers. „ The 182-day T-bill yield z Base rate is calculated on three parameters — „ Anny other benchmark market interest rate the cost of funds, unallocated cost of resources as developed by the Financial Benchmarks and return on net worth. India Pvt. Ltd. z Hence, the rate depended on individual banks (i) T-Bill or Treasury bills are money market and they changed it whenever their cost of instruments issued by the Government funds and other parameters changed. of India as a promissory note with € Marginal Cost of Lending Rate (MCLR): guaranteed repayment at a later date. z It came into effect inApril 2016. It is a benchmark (ii) Financial Benchmarks India Pvt. Ltd lending rate for floating-rate loans.This is the was recognised by the Reserve bank minimum interest rate at which commercial of India as an independent Benchmark banks can lend. administrator on 2nd July 2015. z This rate is based on four components—the marginal cost of funds, negative carry on account of cash reserve ratio, operating costs and tenor premium. z MCLR is linked to the actual deposit rates. Hence, when deposit rates rise, it indicates the banks are likely to hike MCLR and lending rates are set to go up. ¾ Issues Related to IBLR Linked Loans: € The problem with the IBLR regime was that when RBI cut the repo and reverse repo rates, banks did not pass the full benefits to borrowers.

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€ Benefits: or processed as part of the message or payment z Banks are free to decide the spread over the instruction) relating to payment systems operated external benchmark. by them is stored in a system only in India. „ However, the interest rate must be reset as € They were also required to report compliance per the external benchmark at least once to the RBI and submit a board-approved system every three months. audit report conducted by a Computer Emergency z Being an external system, this means any policy Response Team - India (CERT-IN) empanelled rate cut decision will reach borrowers faster. auditor within the timelines specified. ¾ z The adoption of external benchmarking will Reason of Non- Compliance given by Payment Firms: make the interest rates transparent. € High Cost: „ The borrower will also know the spread or z Payment firms like Visa and Mastercard, which profit margin for each bank over the fixed currently store and process Indian transactions interest rate making loan comparisons easier outside the country, have said their systems and more transparent. are centralised and expressed the fear that transferring the data storage to India will cost Foreign Card Payment Network them millions of dollars. € Localization Demands from Other Countries: Companies Barred: RBI z Once it happens in India, there could be similar demands from other countries, upsetting their Why in News plans. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred € Lack of Clarity: three foreign card payment network firms - Mastercard, z While the Finance Ministry had suggested American Express and Diners Club — from taking new some easing of norms in transferring the data, customers on board over the issue of storing data in the RBI has refused to change, stating that the India. payment systems need closer monitoring in the ¾ As many as five private sector banks, including Axis wake of the rising use of digital transactions. Bank, Yes Bank, and IndusInd Bank, are to be impacted ¾ Significance of RBI’s Move: by the RBI’s decision. € The RBI’s decision to restrict entities from ¾ The Personal Data Protection Billalso has provisions onboarding new customers is a crucial development pertaining to ‘data localisation’. in their endeavour to ensure that all payment system operators store or localise their end-to- end transaction data only in India. € The motivation behind such a move is to carry out effective law enforcement requirements as data access for law enforcement purposes has been a challenge. ¾ Regulation of Payment Firms: € Firms such as Mastercard, Visa and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) are Payment System Operators authorised to operate a card network in India under the Payment and Settlement Key Points Systems (PSS) Act, 2007. ¾ RBI’s Circular on Data Storage-April 2018: € Under the Act, the RBI is the authority for the € All system providers were directed to ensure that regulation and supervision of payment systems in within six months the entire data (full end-to-end India. The RBI’s payment system enables payments transaction details, information collected or carried to be effected between a payer and a beneficiary

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and involves the process of clearing, payment or z Technical textiles are functional fabrics that settlement, or all of them. have applications across various industries z It includes both, paper-based such as cheque, including automobiles, civil engineering and demand draft and digital such as National construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), BHIM app, safety, personal protection etc. settlement systems. € India is also the second largest producer of silk € The RBI has decided to allow non-bank entities in the world and 95% of the world’s hand woven — Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuers, card fabric comes from India. networks, White Label ATM operators, Trade ¾ Challenges of the Textiles Sector: Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms € Highly fragmented: The Indian textile industry – to become members of the centralised payment is highly fragmented and is being dominated by system and effect fund transfer through Real Time the unorganized sector and small and medium Gross Settlement (RTGS) and NEFT. industries. € Outdated Technology: The Indian textile industry India’s Textile Sector has its limitations of access to the latest technology (especially in small-scale industries) and failures to meet global standards in the highly competitive Why in News market. Recently, the Union Minister of Textiles held an in- € Tax Structure Issues: The tax structure GST (Goods depth review of initiatives undertaken by the Ministry and Service Tax) makes the garments expensive and of Textiles for giving a boost to the textiles sector. uncompetitive in domestic as well as international markets. Another threat is rising labour wages and Key Points workers’ salaries. ¾ About: € Stagnant Exports: The export from the sector € Textiles & garments industry is labour intensive has been stagnating and remained at the USD sector that employs 45 mn people in India is 40-billion level for the last six years. second only to the agriculture sector in terms € Lack of Scale: The apparel units in India have an of employment. average size of 100 machines which is very less € India’s textiles sector is one of the oldest industries in comparison with Bangladesh, which has on in the Indian economy, and is a storehouse and an average of at least 500 machines per factory. carrier of traditional skills, heritage and culture. € Lack of Foreign Investment: Due to challenges € It can be divided into two segments- given above the foreign investors are not very z The unorganised sector is small scale and enthusiastic about investing in the textile sector uses traditional tools and methods. It consists which is also one of the areas of concern. of handloom, handicrafts and sericulture z Though the sector has witnessed a spurt in (production of silk). investment during the last five years, the z The organised sector uses modern machinery industry attracted Foreign Direct Investment and techniques and consists of the spinning, (FDI) of only USD 3.41 billion from April 2000 apparel and garments segment. to December 2019. ¾ Significance of the Textiles Sector: ¾ Major Initiatives: € It contributes 2.3% to Indian Gross Domestic € Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme Product, 7% of Industrial Output, 12% to the (ATUFS): In 2015, the government approved export earnings of India and employs more than “Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme 21% of total employment. (ATUFS)” for technology upgradation of the € India is the 6th largest producer of Technical Textiles textiles industry. with 6% Global Share, largest producer of cotton € Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP): To & jute in the world. assist small and medium entrepreneurs in the

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textile industry to clusterize investments in textile parks by providing financial support for world class infrastructure in the parks. € SAMARTH (Scheme For Capacity Building In Textile Sector):To address the shortage of skilled workers, the government launched the Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS) and named it SAMARTH Scheme. € North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS): This is a scheme for promoting textiles industry in the NER by providing infrastructure, capacity building and marketing support to all segments of the textile industry. € Power-Tex India: It comprises new research and development in power loom textiles, new markets, branding, subsidies and welfare schemes for the workers. € Silk Samagra Scheme: It focuses on improving the Key Points quality and productivity of domestic silk thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported silk. ¾ 1991 Crisis & Reforms: € Jute ICARE: This pilot project launched in 2015 is € 1991 Crisis: In 1990-91, India faced a severe aimed at addressing the difficulties faced by the Balance of Payments (BOP) crisis, where its foreign jute cultivators by providing them certified seeds exchange reserves were just adequate to finance at subsidized rates, and by popularizing several 15 days of imports. There were many factors that newly developed retting technologies under water led to the BOP crisis: limiting conditions. z Fiscal Deficit: The fiscal deficit during 1990-91 € National Technical Textile Mission:It aims to was around 8.4% of GDP. position the country as a global leader in technical z Gulf War I: In 1990-91, the situation was textiles and increase the use of technical textiles in aggravated by the rise in the price of oil due the domestic market. It aims to take the domestic to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. market size to USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion z Rise in Prices: The inflation rate increased from by 2024. 6.7% to 16.7% due to a rapid increase in money supply and the country’s economic position 30 Years of became worse. € Nature and Scope of 1991 Reforms: In order to Economic Liberalisation get out of the macro-economic crisis in 1991, India launched a New Economic Policy, which was Why in News based on LPG or Liberalisation, Privatisation and Recently, on the 30th anniversary of the economic Globalisation model. liberalisation reforms, former Prime Minister of India, z Then Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, Manmohan Singh, raised concerns over the macro- was the prime architect of the historic 1991 economic stability of the country. liberalisation. ¾ According to him, the current economic crisis triggered z The broad range of reforms under the LPG by the Covid-19 pandemic is more challenging than model included: during the 1991 economic crisis and the nation would „ Liberalising Industrial Policy: Abolition of need to recalibrate its priorities to ensure a dignified industrial license permit raj, Reduction in life for all Indians. import tariffs, etc.

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„ Beginning of Privatisation:Deregulation of € The social sectors of health and education have markets, Banking reforms, etc. lagged behind and not kept pace with our economic „ Globalisation: Exchange rate correction, progress. liberalising foreign direct investment and z Too many lives and livelihoods have been lost trade policies, Removal of mandatory that should not have been, during the pandemic. convertibility cause, etc. € Inspector Raj is set to make a comeback through z These reforms are credited and applauded for the policy for e-commerce entities. the high economic growth seen from 1991 to € India is back to the old habits of borrowing 2011 and substantial reduction of poverty from excessively or extracting money (in form 2005 to 2015. of dividends) from the RBI to finance the fiscal ¾ 2021 Crisis: deficit. € The World Economic Outlook Report 2021, states € The migrant labour crisis has laid bare the gaps that the Indian economy is expected to grow by in the growth model. 12.5% in 2021 and 6.9% in 2022. € India foreign trade policy is again suspecting trade z However, the pandemic has massive unem- liberalisation, as India has already decided to opt- ployment in the informal sector and poverty out of the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive is increasing after decades of decline. Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal.

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International Relations

Highlights z SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting z Protests in Cuba z Joint Actions in Afghanistan: China-Pakistan z Violence in South Africa z Nord Stream 2 Pipeline z G7’s Build Back Better World Initiative z China-led South Asian Initiative

€ The geo-strategic location of India makes it both SCO Defence a “Eurasian land power” as well as a stakeholder Ministers’ Meeting in the Indo-Pacific. € Highlighted non-traditional security challenges like Why in News pandemics, climate change, food security, water security and associated societal disruptions can Recently, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation impact national and international landscape. (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting took place in Dushanbe, € In dealing with Covid-19 pandemic, India has been Tajikistan. at the forefront to provide support and assistance ¾ The Defence Minister of India addressed the grouping to countries through its Vaccine diplomacy. and said India is committed to working within the € India’s initiative oncoalition for disaster resilient SCO framework for helping create & maintain a secure infrastructure (CDRI) was also an example of how & peaceful region. countries were coming together to create and share Key Points capabilities to deal with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief issues. ¾ Major Highlights of Defence Minister’s Address: SCO € Terrorism is the most serious threat to international peace and security and support to any acts of ¾ The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in terror is a crime against humanity. 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. z India reaffirms its resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. ¾ Presently, the SCO comprises eight member states namely India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. ¾ SCO nations together encompass nearly half the human population and it covers approximately three-fifths of the Eurasian continent in terms of geographical expanse. ¾ The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. ¾ India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005. ¾ India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

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z C for Connecting the region, z U for Unite our people, z R for Respect for Sovereignty and Integrity, and z E for Environment protection.

Joint Actions in Afghanistan: China-Pakistan

Why in News Recently, China and Pakistan have decided to launch ¾ India’s Opportunities and SCO: Joint Actions in Afghanistanto stop the war-torn country € Regional Security: SCO will enable India, as an from becoming a hotbed for terrorism. integral part of the Eurasian security grouping, ¾ The recent withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan to neutralise threats like religious extremism and has been matched by the swiftadvance of the Taliban terrorism in the region. across the nation. z It is due to this, India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. € Connect With Central Asia: SCO is also a potential platform to advance India’sConnect Central Asia policy. z India’s ongoing engagement with SCO can be seen through the prism of reconnecting and re- energising ties with a region with which India has shared civilizational linkages, and is considered the country’s extended neighbourhood. € Dealing With Pakistan & China: SCO provides India with a forum where it can constructively engage both China and Pakistan in a regional context and project India’s security interests. Key Points € Bringing Stability in Afghanistan: SCO, also an alternative regional platform to delve into the ¾ Joint Action: It has been outlined in five areas: rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan. € To avoid the expansion of war and prevent z So far India completed 500 projects in Afghanistan Afghanistan from falling into a full-scale civil war. and is continuing with some more, with a total € To promote the intra-Afghan negotiations between development aid of $3 billion. the government and the Taliban and establish “a € Strategic Importance: Acknowledging the strategic broad and inclusive political structure”. importance emanating from the region and SCO, € To resolutely combat terrorist forces and push all the Indian Prime Minister had articulated the major forces in Afghanistan to draw a clear line foundational dimension of Eurasia being‘SECURE’ . against terrorism. The letters in the word SECURE are: € To promote cooperation among Afghanistan’s z S for Security of our citizens, neighbours and to explore the construction of a z E for Economic development for all, platform for cooperation among them.

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€ To closely work on international fora on the € The US dislodged the Taliban regime and established Afghan issue. a transitional government in Afghanistan. ¾ Need: € In July 2021, the US troops departed from the € Terrorism in Pakistan: biggest airbase in Afghanistan after the 20-year-long z Pakistan is concerned over the Tehreek-e-Taliban war, effectively ending their military operations Pakistan (TTP), which has been waging an in the country. insurgency against the country for several years. € The US withdrawal has turned the balance of € Rise in Uyghur Militants: power in the battleground in favour of the Taliban. ¾ z China is worried over the regrouping of the India’s Interests: Uyghur militants from Xinjiang, China who € Investments: operate under the aegis of East Turkestan Islamic z Protecting its investments, which run into Movement (ETIM), which Beijing alleges has billions of rupees, in Afghanistan. links with Al-Qaeda. € Taliban: „ The recently released 12th report of the z Preventinga future Taliban regime from being Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring a pawn of Pakistan. Team of the United Nation has confirmed the € Pakistan’s Terror Base: presence of the ETIM militants in Afghanistan. z Making sure that the Pakistan-backed anti- € Economic Interests: India terrorist groups do not get support from z If the situation in Afghanistan further deteriorates, the Taliban. Pakistan as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be in danger. Also many other Chinese projects in Afghanistan and Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Pakistan will be in danger. „ There was a recent bomb attack on a shuttle Why in News bus carrying Chinese engineers at Dasu Recently, the US has approved the Germany-Russia area of Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Nord Stream 2 Pipeline (NS2P) project - which significantly Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan where a increases Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. Chinese company is building a 4320-mw dam on the Indus river. ¾ The US had previously imposed sanctions to prevent the completion of this gas pipeline between Russia „ India has opposed the CPEC, which passes and Germany. through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK), although China has pushed ahead with projects and stepped up its investments in PoK. ¾ Background of Situation in Afghanistan: € On 11th September 2001, terrorist attacks (9/11) in America killed nearly 3,000 people. z Osama Bin Laden, the head of Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the man responsible. € The Taliban, radical Islamists who ran Afghanistan at that time, protected Bin Laden, and refused to hand him over. So, a month after 9/11, the US launched airstrikes against Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). € After the attacks, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) coalition troops declared war on Afghanistan.

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Key Points z Germany has to “utilise all available leverage” to extend by 10 years the current Russia-Ukraine ¾ About: gas transit agreement. € This is a 1,200-km pipeline that runs from Ust-Luga z Germany also has to contribute at least $175 in Russia to Greifswald in Germany through the million to a new $1 billion “Green Fund for Baltic Sea. It will carry 55 billion cubic metres of Ukraine” that aims at improving the country’s gas per year. energy independence. € It was decided to build this pipeline in 2015. € Nord stream 1 system is already completed and together with NS2P, it will supply 110 billion cubic China-led South Asian Initiative metre of gas a year to Germany. ¾ Implications: Why in News € EU’s Dependence on Russia: Recently, Bangladesh has invited India to join the z It will increase Europe’s dependence on Russia China-led South Asian initiative for Covid-19 vaccines for Natural Gas, currently EU (European Union) and poverty alleviation. countries already rely on Russia for 40% of ¾ It includes the creation of the China-South Asian their gas needs. Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, and a Poverty € Bypassing Ukraine: Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre set up in China. z There is an existing pipeline between Russia and Europe through Ukraine, once the NS2P Key Points project is completed it would bypass Ukraine ¾ and deprive it of a significant transit fee of About China-South Asian Initiative: around $ 3 billion per year. € Members: China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. € Geopolitical win for Russia: z India, Bhutan and the Maldives are the other z It can be a generational geopolitical win for Russia and a catastrophe for the United States SAARC countries that are not part of this initiative. and its allies. € Intended Vision: China has different kinds of strategic, maritime, political and ideological ¾ US’ New Stand: interests with different South Asian nations so it € Softer Option to threaten Russia: is increasing its engagements with each country z The US has gone with the softer option of on equal footing to counterbalance India. threatening Russia with consequences should € India’s Stand: Given continuing tensions over it use the pipeline to harm Ukraine or other Chinese PLA aggression at the Line of Actual countries in eastern Europe. Control in Ladakh, India’s stand is that other z On one hand, it wants access to Russia’s bilateral relationscannot move ahead without a hydrocarbons, but on the other distrusts resolution of theboundary stand-off. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who it holds ¾ Associated Issues: This initiative seems to be China responsible for a series of affronts, such as ‘s strategy to contain and undermine India’s role in the Crimean conflict of 2014 and the alleged South Asia. This can be reflected in the following interference in the US elections of 2016 and 2020. arguments: € Germany’s own Act against Russia: € Minus-India Initiative:Combinations of all SAARC z The US-Germany deal lays out that Germany member countries (other than India, Bhutan and by itself will put sanctions and limit Russian Maldives) led some experts to suggest this was exports, if ‘ Russia attempts to use the energy meant to be a “Minus India” initiative. as a weapon and commit further aggressive € Diluting India’s Role in South Asia: This initiative acts against Ukraine’. is one of China’s attempts to make inroads into € Green Fund for Ukraine: South Asia.

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z The Chinese push to this regional grouping comes also at a time when India has been reluctant to revive SAARC, turning its focus more on yet another regional bloc–BIMSTEC. € Countering Quad: The China-led bloc could be its plan to create what some call a northern Himalayan Quad aimed at countering the US-led Quad of which India is an active member. ¾ India’s Initiatives for South Asia: € In early 2021, India - driven by its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and in its understanding of its role as the ‘net security provider’ of the region began providing Covid-19 vaccines on a priority basis to its immediate neighbours (Vaccine Diplomacy). z India is also helping with the training of health workers in some of these countries and the setting up of the infrastructure to administer the shots. € Recently, India, Japan and Australia have formally Key Points launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative ¾ Ongoing Protests: (SCRI). € The anti-government protests erupted amid z It aims to reduce dependence on China amid Cuba’s worst economic crisis since the fall of the a likelihood of rechurning of supply chains Soviet Union, its former ally, or end of the cold in the Indo-Pacific region amid the Covid-19 war (1945-1991). pandemic. z Cuba has been an authoritarian communist € However, India for years has struggled to match state for more than six decades. the pace of Chinese investment in countries such € Cuba has been hit hard by US sanctions and as Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, where China Covid-19. is building ports, roads and power stations as part € Cubans have been angered by the collapse of the of its Belt and Road Initiative. economy, food and medicine shortages, price hikes z Recently, the Regional Comprehensive Economic and the government’s handling of the pandemic. Partnership (RCEP), a mega trade bloc comprising € Protesters shouted “freedom” and 15 countries led by China has come into existence. demanded It has kept the doors for India open. for President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down. € On the other hand, Cuba’s President blamed the US for the turmoil. Protests in Cuba z He called tight sanctions imposed by the US on Cuba, has resulted in a policy of economic Why in News suffocation and is the prime reason for protests Recently, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in Cuba. across the country to protest longstanding restrictions € Further, the US President said the US stands with on rights, scarcity of food and medicines, and the the people of Cuba in their call for freedom. government’s poor response to the Covid-19 pandemic. ¾ History of Cuba: ¾ These protests are the biggest anti-government € From the 15th century, Cuba was a colony of Spain demonstrations on the Communist-run island in until the Spanish–American War of 1898, when decades. Cuba was occupied by the US.

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z However, Cuba gained nominal independence € US Sanctions: After Cuban Missile Crisis, the US as a de facto United States protectorate in 1902. instituted aban on nearly all its exports to Cuba, € In 1940, Cuba attempted to strengthen its which US President John F. Kennedy expanded into democratic system. But, political radicalization and a full economic embargo that included stringent social strife culminated in a coup and subsequent travel restrictions. dictatorship under Fulgencio Batista in 1952. z These economic sanctions continue till today. € Open corruption and oppression under Batista’s z US President Barack Obama took several steps to rule led to his ousting in January 1959 by the 26th normalize bilateral relations, including restoring of July Movement. This established communist diplomatic ties and expanding travel and trade. rule under the leadership of Fidel Castro. z However, the Trump administration reversed € Since 1965, the state has been governed by the aspects of the past agreements by reimposing Communist Party of Cuba. restrictions on tourism and other commerce. ¾ € Moreover, the country was a point of contention India’s Stand: during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and € Presently, India is yet to declare its stance on the United States. A nuclear war nearly broke out the current ongoing protest, but India in the past during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. has supported lifting the economic blockade of . ¾ USA-Cuba Relationship:The United States and Cuba Cuba have had a strained relationship for more than sixty € In the UN General Assembly, India stressed that years. The tumultuous US-Cuba relationship has its the continued existence of this siege by the US roots in the Cold War. This can be reflected in the against Cuba undermines multilateralism and the following events. credibility of the United Nations. € Cuban Revolution:In 1959, Fidel Castro and a group Communist Country of revolutionaries seized power in Havana (city ¾ A Communist country is a nation that is governed capital of Cuba). They overthrew the US-backed by a single party, and the foundation of the ruling government of Fulgencio Batista. leaders’ decisions is based on the philosophies of z After the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro’s Marx and Lenin. government began nationalizing American- ¾ Communism is a political, social, philosophical, and owned properties, imposed economic penalties economic doctrine aiming to replace private property on trade with the US and increased its trade profit-based economy with common ownership of with the Soviet Union. major means of production. € Cuban Missile Crisis: Aftermath of events following Cuban revolution, the United States severed Violence in South Africa diplomatic ties with Cuba and began pursuing covert operations to overthrow the Fidel Castro regime in 1961. Why in News z This followed an attempt by the US agencies to Recently, Riots and looting in South Africa have left topple Cuban Government, known as the Bay more than 70 people dead, hurt thousands of businesses of Pigs invasion. and damaged major infrastructure. z In response, Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to ¾ It is the worst civil unrest since the end of white secretly install nuclear missiles on the island. minority rule in 1994. This brought the US and Soviet Union on the brink of Nuclear war. Key Points z In the end, Soviet Union agreed to withdraw ¾ Reason for Recent Violence: the missiles in exchange for a pledge from the € Protests began over calls for release of former US not to invade Cuba and to remove the US president Jacob Zuma, who served the country nuclear missiles from Turkey. from 2009-18 and is facing corruption charges.

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€ India was at the forefront of the international community in its support to the anti-apartheid movement; it was the first country to sever trade relations with the apartheid Government (in 1946) and subsequently imposed a complete – diplomatic, commercial, cultural and sports -embargo on South Africa. € After a gap of four decades, India re-established trade and business ties in 1993, after South Africa ended its institutionalised racial segregation (apartheid). z In November 1993, diplomatic and consular relations were restored. z Former Cabinet ministers, high-ranking govern- ¾ Political Relations: ment officials and executives of state-owned enterprises have implicated Jacob Zuma in € After South Africa achieved democracy in 1994, corruption. it was the Red Fort Declaration on Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa, z Many feel that his successor as president, Cyril signed in March 1997 which set the parameters Ramaphosa, has failed to provide decisive for a rekindled relationship. leadership - either to calm anger over Zuma’s imprisonment or to reassure South Africans € The Strategic Partnership between the two countries that they will be safe. was again reaffirmed in theTshwane Declaration € While the violence may have been spurred on (October 2006). by the imprisonment of Jacob Zuma, it’s being z Both these declarations have been instrumental fanned by underlying problems in the country mechanisms that have contributed in the past amid a raging pandemic and failing economy. to both South Africa and India for achieving z In 2020, the country had witnessed its sharpest their respective national objectives. decline in annual Gross Domestic Product € India and South Africa have a long history of working since 1946. together by coordinating their views and efforts z Unemployment stood at a record high of 32.6% in institutions of global governance/multilateral in the first three months of 2021. fora, in order to achieve greater autonomy and ¾ Government’s Response: ensure that the agenda of ‘South’ is prioritised. z (Brazil, Russia, India, China € The government has condemned the violence For Example: BRICS and has stated that there is no justification for and South Africa), IBSA (India, Brazil, and South the violence. A lot of criminals or opportunistic Africa), G20, Indian Ocean Rim Association individuals are trying to enrich themselves during (IORA) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). this period. ¾ Economic: € It has deployed its army to support the South € India is South Africa’s fifth-largest export destina- African police, however, the rioting and looting tion, and fourth-largest import origin and is the haven’t stopped. second-largest trading partner in Asia. z Both countries are working to boost trade India-South Africa Relations volumes in the coming years. Bilateral trade ¾ Background: between India and South Africa currently stands € India’s links with the struggle for freedom and at USD 10 billion. justice in South Africa date back to the period during € In 2016 both the countries agreed to collaborate which Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagraha in the defence sector, especially in terms of the movement in South Africa over a century ago. opportunities available for South African private

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sector under ‘Make in India’ initiative, energy sector, dominance in trade, foreign policy and geopolitics agro-processing, human resource development, in the world. and infrastructure development. Group of Seven ¾ Science & Technology: ¾ It is an intergovernmental organisation that was € The Department of Science and Technology of formed in 1975. both countries have collaborated, especially in the ¾ The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project. common interest like global economic governance, ¾ Culture: international security and energy policy. € With the help of the Indian Council for Cultural ¾ The G7 countries are the UK, Canada, France, Relations (ICCR), an intensive programme of cultural Germany, Italy, Japan and the US. exchanges is organised throughout South Africa € All the G7 countries and India are a part of G20. including scholarships for South African nationals. ¾ The G7 does not have a formal constitution or a th € The 9 World Hindi Conference was held in fixed headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders September 2012 at Johannesburg. during annual summits are non-binding. ¾ Indian Community: z The € The major part of the Indian origin community overall focus is on developing transportation, came to South Africa from 1860 onwards as farm logistics and communications, which would labour to serve as field hands and mill operatives reduce trade and transaction cost for China’s in the sugar and other agricultural plantations. trade, give more market access to Chinese markets and ensure stable supply of energy € South Africa is home to the highest number of and other resources. Indian Diaspora in the African continent, with a total strength of 1,218,000 thereby constituting € This infrastructure plan is being led by the United 3% of South Africa’s total population. States. z Since 2003 onwards, India has celebrated Pravasi z B3W initiative will provide a transparent Bhartiya Divas (PBD) each year on 9th January infrastructure partnership to help narrow (the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South about $40 trillion needed by developing nations Africa to India). by 2035. € It calls for spending hundreds of billions of dollars in collaboration with the private sector G7’s Build Back while adhering to climate standards and labour Better World Initiative practices. € However, the announcement is yet to be made Why in News about how exactly the plan would work or how much capital it would ultimately allocate. The G7 (Group of Seven) Countries proposed a ‘Build ¾ Back Better World (B3W) initiative’ at the recent47 th G7 China’s BRI: summit to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). € About: z It was launched in 2013. It involves development Key Points and investment initiatives that would stretch ¾ About: from Asia to Europe and beyond. € It aims to address the infrastructure investment z More than 100 countries have signed agree- deficit in developing and lower income countries ments with China to cooperate in BRI projects - the space which has been increasingly captured like railways, ports, highways and other infra- by China through 2,600 BRI projects with trillions structure. of dollars of investment. € China’s Investment through BRI: z BRI projects are perceived as corrosive tactics z Since its inception, outward investment has or debt traps laid by China for its strategic been aggressive as China’s FDI (Foreign Direct

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Investment) outflow to inflow ratio increased „ The massive infrastructure project connects to 1 from around 0.34 during 2001-10. China’s Xinjiang province with Gwadar port z In volume terms, the FDI outflow increased in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. to an average of $140 billion in 2016-19 from z India refused to join the Chinese initiative in an annual average $25 billion during 2001-10. the past and raised its voice against the BRI. z China is investing in Africa to lay a compre- z India also sees an adverse trade impact on hensive transportation network. China has its products’ competitiveness,market access, also signed various contacts with the East resource extraction etc. due to Chinese Asian region, mostly focusing on transpor- competition. tation, railways, roadways and waterways, for ¾ Significance of B3W: better integration between China and ASEAN € The re-emergence of China as a leading global countries. power is considered to be one of the most € Important Projects: significant geo-political events of recent times, z China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the alongside the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union that Bangladesh-China, the Myanmar Economic ended the Cold War. Corridor (BCIM) and the Colombo Port City € China in 1979 had an economy that was smaller Project in Sri Lanka, amongst others, are than Italy’s, but after opening to foreign investment important BRI projects. and introducing market reforms, it has become the z China has a plan to complete 4,000 km of railways world’s second-largest economy and is a global and 10,000 km of highways within the Central leader in a range of new technologies. Asian region as part of BRI. € However, the West had failed to offer a positive € India’s Concerns: alternative to the “lack of transparency, poor z India has expressed concerns about the China- environmental and labour standards, and coercive Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as it traverses approach” of the Chinese government that had through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). left many countries worse off.

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Science and Technology

Highlights z GRB 200826A: Gamma-Ray Burst z Internet Through High Altitude Balloons z Monkeypox z NASA’s New Spacecraft: NEA Scout z Near-Surface Shear Layer of the Sun z Moon’s Wobble Effect z Moon-Forming Regions Around Exoplanets z Pegasus Spyware z Antimicrobial Resistance z Hubble Space Telescope z Bird Flu: Avian Influenza z Nauka Module of Russia

GRB 200826A: Gamma-Ray Burst

Why in News Recently, a group of astronomers have detected a very short, powerful burst of high-energy radiation also known as Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) that lasted for about a second. ¾ It was named GRB 200826A after the date it occurred, which is 26th August 2020. ¾ It was detected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Key Points ¾ Gamma-Ray Bursts: € About: z They are the most powerful events in the universe, detectable across billions of light-years. „ A light-year is the distance a beam of light travels in a single Earth year, or 9.5 trillion km. „ Black hole refers to a point in space where z Astronomers classify them as long or short matter is so compressed as to create a gravity based on whether the event lasts for more or field from which even light cannot escape. less than two seconds. z As matter swirls toward the black hole, some € Long GRBs: of it escapes in the form of two powerful jets z They observe long bursts in association with that rush outward at almost the speed of light the demise of massive stars. in opposite directions. z When a star much more massive than the Sun z Astronomers only detect a GRB when one of runs out of fuel, its core suddenly collapses these jets happens to point almost directly and forms a black hole. toward Earth.

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z Each jet drills through the star, producing a pulse z It was launched in June 2008. It is named after of gamma rays – the highest-energy form of Enrico Fermi, an Italian-American scientist who light – that can last up to minutes. did pioneering work in high-energy physics. z Following the burst, the disrupted star then € Collaboration: rapidly expands as a supernova. z Fermi is an astrophysics and particle physics „ A supernova is the name given to an exploding partnership, developed in collaboration with the star that has reached the end of its life. US Department of Energy, along with important € Short GRB: contributions from academic institutions and z Short GRB, on the other hand, forms when pairs partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, of compact objects – such as neutron stars, Sweden, and the U.S. which also form during stellar collapse – spiral € Major Function: inward over billions of years and collide. z It maps the entire sky every three hours. It „ A Neutron star comprises one of the possible provides an important window into the most evolutionary end-points of high mass stars. extreme phenomena of the universe, like GRBs, ¾ GRB 200826A: black-hole jets, and pulsars. „ are types of neutron stars which emit € It was a sharp blast of high-energy emission lasting Pulsars just 0.65 seconds. radio pulses at regular intervals. z After traveling for a very long period of time Gamma Rays through the expanding universe, the signal ¾ About: had stretched out to about one-second-long when it was detected by Fermi’s Gamma-ray € They are the highest-energy light in the universe. Burst Monitor. They can have over a billion times the energy of the type of light visible to our eyes. z It had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the universe. € They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron € It is considered to be the the shortest GRB till stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and now and it occurred caused by the death of a regions around black holes. massive star. € The gamma rays possess high energy; they can ¾ Significance of GRB 200826A: pass right through any lens or mirror, making € It has helped to resolve the long-standing issues it very difficult to focus them in a visible-light related to gamma-ray bursts. Also, this study telescope. triggers to re-analyse all such known events to ¾ Gamma-Rays on Earth: constrain number densities better. € On Earth, gamma rays are generated by nuclear ¾ Researchers: explosions, lightning, and the less dramatic € The group included Indian astronomers from activity of radioactive decay. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational € Gamma-ray astronomy is the astronomical Sciences (ARIES), The Inter-University Centre observation of gamma rays with photon energies for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune (IUCAA), above 100 keV(Kilo Electron Volt). National Centre for Radio Astrophysics - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Pune (NCRA) € Gamma rays are so energetic that they are and IIT Mumbai. harmful to life on Earth. ¾ Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: € Earth’s atmosphere absorbs gamma rays, preventing them from affecting life on the ground. € About: € Astronomical observations of gamma-ray sources z Formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space are therefore done with high-altitude balloons Telescope (GLAST), it is a space observatory or satellites, above the protective blanket of being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy Earth’s atmosphere. observationsfrom low Earth orbit.

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secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or Monkeypox objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials. Why in News € Transmission can also occur by inoculation or via (congenital monkeypox). Recently, the US started surveillance on people the placenta travelling from Nigeria, who may have had contact with ¾ Vulnerability: the individuals infected with Monkeypox. € It spreads rapidly and can cause one out of ten deaths if infected. Key Points ¾ Treatment and Vaccine: ¾ About: € There is no specific treatment or vaccine available € It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from for Monkeypox infection. In the past, the anti- animals to humans) and is identified as a pox- smallpox vaccine was shown to be 85% effective like disease among monkeys hence it is named in preventing Monkeypox. Monkeypox. It is endemic to Nigeria. z But the world was declared free of smallpox € It is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the in 1980 so the vaccine isn’t widely available Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. anymore. € The natural host of the virus remains undefined. € Currently, there is no global system in place to But the disease has been reported in many animals. manage the spread of Monkeypox, with each z Animals known to be sources of Monkeypox country struggling to contain any outbreak virus include monkeys and apes, a variety of whenever it occurs. rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels and prairie dogs) and rabbits. Near-Surface ¾ Outbreaks: € It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the Shear Layer of the Sun Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans in 1970, also in the DRC. Why in News € In 2017, Nigeria experienced the largest documented Recently, Indian astronomers from Aryabhatta outbreak, 40 years after the last confirmed case. Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), € Subsequently, the disease has been reported in and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, have for the many West and Central African countries. first time given the theoretical explanation of the ¾ Symptoms: existence of a near-surface shear layer (NSSL) in the Sun. € Infected people break out in a rash that looks a ¾ ARIES is an autonomous institute under the Department lot like chicken pox. But the fever, malaise, and of Science and Technology. headache from Monkeypox are usually more severe than in chicken pox infection. Key Points € In the early stage of the disease, Monkeypox can ¾ About Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL): be distinguished from smallpox because the € Apart from differentiation rotation between equator lymph gland gets enlarged. and poles, the helioseismology has revealed that ¾ Transmission: the Sun has a Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL). € Primary infection is through direct contact with € The NSSL is the region very close to the visible solar the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal surface, where there is a change in the rotation lesions of an infected animal. Eating inadequately profile of the Sun. cooked meat of infected animals is also a risk factor. € This layer exists very close to the solar surface, € Human-to-human transmission can result from within which the angular velocity decreases close contact with infected respiratory tract rapidly with radius.

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appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface. z Further, these active regions often generate solar storms: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Moon-Forming Regions Around Exoplanets

€ This NSSL is thought to play a significant role Why in News in defining the nature of large-scale convective Recently, scientists for the first time have spotted a patterns that drive the Sun’s magnetism. Moon-Forming Region around a planet beyond our solar system (Exoplanet). Note: ¾ Angular velocity: It is the time rate at which an object Exoplanets rotates, or revolves, about an axis, or at which the ¾ An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside angular displacement between two bodies changes. the Solar System. The firstconfirmation of detection ¾ Helioseismology: It is a technique of using sound of exoplanets occurred in 1992. More than 4,400 waves to peek inside the Sun. exoplanets have been discovered till now. ¾ Exoplanets are very hard to see directly with ¾ Findings of the Study: telescopes. They are hidden by the bright glare of € In their study, they have used an equation called the stars they orbit. So, astronomers use other ways the thermal wind balance equation. to detect and study exoplanets such as looking at the z It explains how the slight difference in temperature effects these planets have on the stars they orbit. between solar poles and equator, called thermal wind, is balanced by the centrifugal force Key Points appearing due to solar differential rotation. ¾ Observation & Findings: € Understanding NSSL is crucial for the study of € Scientists detected a disc of swirling material several solar phenomena like sunspot formation, accumulatingaround two exoplanets seen orbiting solar cycle, and it will also help in understanding a young star called PDS 70. such phenomena in other stars. z PDS 70 is located a relatively close 370 light ¾ About Differential Rotation of the Sun: years from Earth. € It was long known that the Sun has Differential z A light year is the distance light travels in a year, rotation, which means different parts of the Sun about 9.5 trillion km. rotate at different speeds. € It is called a circumplanetary disc, and it is from z The Sun rotates faster at the equator than at these that moons are born. The disc around PDS the poles. € Over time, the Sun’s differential rotation ratescause its magnetic field to become twisted and tangled. z The “tangles” in the magnetic field lines can produce very, very strong localized magnetic fields. z These localised magnetic fields on the surface of the Sun are active regions wheresunspots occur. „ Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun (photosphere). They

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70c (The Exoplanet), with a diameter about equal to the distance of the Earth to the sun, possesses enough mass to produce up to three moons the size of Earth’s moon. z PDS 70c orbits its star at 33 times the distance of the Earth from the sun, similar to the planet Neptune in our solar system. € The orange-coloured star PDS 70, roughly the same mass as our Sun, is about 5 million years old. The two planets are even younger. Both planets are similar (although larger) to Jupiter, a gas giant. € It was around one of the two planets, called PDS 70c, that a moon-forming disc was observed. € Both planets are still in their youth and are at a embryo is formed (10-20 Earth masses) to dynamic stage in which they are still acquiring accrete a gaseous envelope. their atmospheres. € In this scenario, small dust grains, coated in ice, ¾ Instrument Used: gradually grow to larger and larger sizes through € They used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submil- successive collisions with other grains. limeter Array (ALMA) observatory in Chile’s Ata- € This continues until the grains have grown to a cama desert. It is the most complex astronomical size of a planetary core, at which point the young observatory ever built on Earth. planet has a strong enough gravitational potential z Teams from North America, East Asia, and Europe to accrete gas which will form its atmosphere. merged projects to develop this breakthrough € Some nascent planets attract a disc of material scientific instrument. around them,with the same process that gives rise € It uses 66 high-precision dish antennas of two to planets around a star leading to the formation sizes: 54 of them are 12 meters across and 12 of of moons around planets. them are 7 meters across. ¾ Other Moon Forming Regions: Antimicrobial Resistance € No circumplanetary discs had been found until now because all the known exoplanets resided in Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare “mature” – fully developed – solar systems, except highlighted various measures to address the challenges the two infant gas planets orbiting PDS 70. posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)in the country. € In our solar system, the impressive rings of Saturn, Key Points a planet around which more than 80 moons orbit, represent a relic of a primordial moon-forming disc. ¾ About: ¾ Planet & Moon Formation: € Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired € Stars burst to life within clouds of interstellar gas by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and dust scattered throughout galaxies. Leftover parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs material spinning around a new star then coalesces (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, into planets, and circumplanetary discs surrounding antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used some planets similarly yield moons. to treat infections. € The dominant mechanism thought to underpin € As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, planet formation is called “core accretion’’. infections persist and may spread to others. z Core accretion occurs from the collision and € Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial coagulation of solid particles into gradually resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”. larger bodies until a massive enough planetary ¾ Reasons for Spread of AMR:

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€ The misuse of antimicrobials in medicine and € Antibiotic Stewardship Program:ICMR has initiated inappropriate use in agriculture. antibiotic stewardship program (AMSP) on a pilot € Contamination around pharmaceutical manu- project across India to control misuse and overuse facturing sites where untreated waste releases of antibiotics in hospital wards and ICUs. large amounts of active antimicrobials into the z DCGI has banned 40 fixed dose combinations environment. (FDCs) which were found inappropriate. ¾ AMR in India: € Integrated One Health Surveillance Network € India, with its combination of large population, for AMR: To assess the preparedness of Indian rising incomes that facilitate purchase of antibiotics, Veterinary laboratories to participate in integrated high burden of infectious diseases and easy over- AMR surveillance network. the-counter access to antibiotics, is an important z ICMR has also created a veterinary standard locus for the generation of resistance genes (such operating procedure (Vet-SOPs) for enabling genes help bacteria in surviving on being exposed comparison of antimicrobial resistance patterns to antibiotics). in animals and humans. € The multi-drug resistance determinant,New Delhi € Others: Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), emerged z India has undertaken many activitieslike Mission from this region to spread globally. Indradhanush — to address low vaccination z Africa, Europe and other parts of Asia have also coverage — strengthened micro-planning and been affected by multi-drug resistant typhoid additional mechanisms to improve monitoring originating from South Asia. and accountability. € In India, over 56,000 newborn deaths each year z The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) due to sepsis are caused by organisms that are identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities resistant to first line antibiotics. for the ministry’s collaborative work with the ¾ Measures Taken to Address AMR: World Health Organisation (WHO). € National Programme on AMR containment: ¾ WHO’s take on AMR: Launched in 2012. Under this programme, AMR € The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Surveillance Network has been strengthened by AMR as one of the top ten threats to global health. establishing labs in State Medical College. € WHO recommends that countries must prioritize € National Action Plan on AMR: It focuses on One their national action plans to scale up financing Health approach and was launched in April 2017 and capacity building efforts, put in place stronger with the aim of involving various stakeholder regulatory systems and support awareness ministries/departments. programmes for responsible and prudent use of € AMR Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN): antimicrobials by professionals in humans, animals It was launched in 2013, to generate evidence and plants health. and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant € The WHO also suggests a number of steps that can infections in the country. be taken at various levels to reduce the impact and € AMR Research & International Collaboration: also limit the spread of this resistance. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has taken initiatives to develop new drugs /medicines Bird Flu: Avian Influenza through international collaborations in order to strengthen medical research in AMR. Why in News z ICMR along with Research Council of Norway RCN) initiated a joint call for research in Recently, the frst human death was recorded due) antimicrobial resistance in 2017. to Bird Flu in India this Year. This was caused by H5N1 z ICMR along with the Federal Ministry of Education Avian Influenza Virus. and Research (BMBF), Germany has a joint Indo- ¾ Earlier, China reported the first human infection of German collaboration for research on AMR. H10N3 bird flu.

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Key Points influenza viruses, and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment ¾ About: or control measures. € A disease caused by avian influenza (AI) Type A ¾ Status of Bird Flu in India: viruses found naturally in wild birds worldwide. € Fresh cases of bird flu were reported in different z AI viruses are broadly classified aslow pathogenic states of India between AI (LPAI) and highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) December 2020-January causing alarm across the country. viruses, based on their pathogenicity. H5N1 2021 strains come under HPAI viruses. € Previously in 2019, India was declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), which had also been € The virus can infect domestic poultry including chickens, ducks, turkeys and there have been notified to the World Organization for Animal reports of H5N1 infection among pigs, cats, and Health (OIE). even tigers in Thailand zoos. z The OIE is an intergovernmental organisation ¾ Impact: responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It is headquartered in Paris, France. € Outbreaks can lead to devastating consequences for the country, particularly thepoultry industry. Types of Influenza Virus € Farmers might experience a high level of mortality ¾ There are four types of influenza viruses: influenza in their flocks, with rates often around 50%. A, B, C, and D. ¾ Infection in Humans: € Influenza A and Bare the two types of influenza € The most common route of virus transmission is that cause epidemic seasonal infections nearly direct contact with infected birds, either dead or every year. alive, or contact with contaminated surfaces or air € Influenza C mainly occurs in humans, but has near the infected poultry. been known to also occur in dogs and pigs. € Human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus € Influenza D is found mainly in cattle. It’s not is very rare. known to infect or cause illness in humans yet. € Children and adults below 40 were seen to be the most affected and mortality was high in 10- Avian influenza Type A viruses 19 years olds. ¾ Type A viruses are classified based on two proteins ¾ Symptoms in Humans: on their surfaces – Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neur- aminidase (NA). There are about 18 HA subtypes € It ranges from mild to severe influenza-like illnesses and 11 NA subtypes. such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. ¾ Several combinations of these two proteins are possible e.g., H5N1, H7N2, H9N6, H17N10, H18N11 € People can also develop severe respiratory illness (e.g., difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute etc. respiratory distress, viral pneumonia) and altered ¾ All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect mental status, seizures etc. birds, except subtypes H17N10 and H18N11, which ¾ Prevention and Eradication: have only been found in bats. € Strict biosecurity measures and good hygiene are essential in protecting against disease outbreaks. Internet Through € If the infection is detected in animals, a policy of High Altitude Balloons culling infected and contact animals is normally used in an effort to rapidly contain, control and eradicate the disease. Why in News € WHO’s global laboratory system, the Global Recently, the US has planned to transmit the Internet Influenza Surveillance and Response System to the people in Cuba via high-altitude balloons when (GISRS), identifies and monitors strains of circulating their government has blocked access.

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¾ There is an ongoing protest in Cuba against long standing restrictions on rights, scarcity of food and medicines, and the government’s poor response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key Points ¾ High Altitude Balloons for Internet: € They are commonly known as Loon Balloons as the first High Altitude Balloon for providing internet was used under Project Loon. € They are made of the commonplace plastic polyethylene and are the size provisions, and to improve communication of a tennis court. during natural disasters to affected regions. € They are powered by solar panels and controlled ¾ Challenges: by software on the ground. € Need Unused Band: € While up in the air, they act as floating cell towers, z It would need an unused band of spectrum, or transmitting internet signals to ground stations radio frequencies, to transmit a connection, and personal devices. and spectrum use is typically controlled by z They float 60,000 to 75,000 feet, above the national governments. , well above commercial jetliner routes. Earth z Anyone trying this would have to find a free block € They last for well over 100 days in the stratosphere of spectrum that wouldn’t be interfered with. before being returned to earth. € Uneconomical: € Each balloon can serve thousands of people. But z Balloon - or drone-powered networks aren’t they had to be replaced every five months or so likely to be economical over the long term. because of the harsh conditions in thestratosphere . € Operational Challenges: And the balloons can be difficult to control. z Developing algorithms to appropriately map ¾ Requirements: balloon positions, determining a good strategy € Network: to deal with unpleasant weather and addressing z Beyond the balloons themselves, it needed the concern of relying on the non-renewable network integration with a telecom to provide resources are among other challenges. service and some equipment on the ground in Project Loon the region. ¾ It was started in 2011 by Alphabet, the parent € Permission: company of Google. It was a network of stratospheric z It also needs permission from local regulators. balloons designed to bring Internet connectivity to ¾ Significance: rural and remote areas. € Cheap: ¾ It shut down that project in January 2020 as it z By allowing phone companies to expand their wasn’t commercially viable. coverage where needed, the balloons are ¾ Prior to the shutdown, Loon balloons had been intended to offer countries a cheaper option providing service in mountainous areas in Kenya than laying cables or building cell towers. through a partnership with a local telecom. ¾ € Access to Remote Areas: The service also helped provide wireless com- munications in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of z They are able to bring Internet access to remote Hurricane Maria. and rural areas poorly served by existing

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z It will travel to a near-Earth asteroid and perform NASA’s New a slow fly-by, capturing up-close images of the Spacecraft: NEA Scout surface. ¾ Significance: Why in News € The images gathered by NEA Scout will provide critical information on the asteroid’s physical Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- properties such as orbit, shape, volume, rotation, tration (NASA) has announced that its new spacecraft, the dust and debris field surrounding it, plus its named Near-Earth Asteroid Scout or NEA Scout, has surface properties. completed all required tests and has been safely tucked € The spacecraft will pave the way for the Solar inside the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Cruiser, which will use a sail 16 times larger when Key Points it flies in 2025. € can ¾ About NEA Scout: Studying Near-Earth asteroids help in developing strategies for reducing the potential € Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, or NEA Scout, is a damage caused in the event of an impact. miniaturized spacecraft, known as a CubeSat, € Data can be used to determine what is required to developed under NASA’s Advanced Exploration reduce risk, increase effectiveness, and improve Systems (AES) Program. the design and operations of robotic and human z AES pioneers new approaches for rapidly space exploration. developing prototype systems, demonstrating ¾ Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): key capabilities, and validating operational concepts for future human missions beyond € NEOs are comets and asteroids pushed by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into low-Earth orbit. orbits which allow them to enter the Earth’s € Its is to fly by and collect data from main mission neighbourhood. a near-Earth asteroid. € These objects are composed mostly of water ice z It will take about two years to cruise to the with embedded dust particles. asteroid and will be about 93 million miles € NEOs occasionally approach close to the Earth as away from Earth during the asteroid encounter. they orbit the Sun. € It will also be America’s first interplanetary mission € NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Study (CNEOS) using a special solar sail propulsion. determines the time and distances of these objects, z So far, spacecraft have been using solar energy when their approach to the Earth is close, through to power them and execute critical functions. the Asteroid Watch Widget. z This will be the first time that a spacecraft uses it as wind to generate thrust and move forward. Asteroids ¾ € It is one of several payloads that will hitch a ride These are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much on Artemis I, which is expected to be launched in smaller than planets. They are also called minor November, 2021. planets. ¾ z Artemis I will be an uncrewed testflight of the According to NASA, 9,94,383 is the count of known Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. asteroids, the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago. z It is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to ¾ Asteroids are divided into three classes: the Moon and Mars. € First, those found in the main asteroid belt € NEA Scout launches to the Moon in 2021 with a between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated fleet of other small satellites aboard Artemis 1. to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids. z At the Moon, NEA Scout will deploy its 86-square- meter solar sail and slowly spiral out of lunar € The second group is that of trojans, which are orbit. asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet.

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z In the € The third classification is Near-Earth Asteroids other half, the effect is reversed, which is (NEA), which have orbits that pass close to the called the tide-amplifying phaseof the Moon. Earth. Those that cross the Earth’s orbit are ¾ Related Concerns: called Earth-crossers. € The lunar cycle is expected to shift again by z More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, mid-2030, and in the coming phase, the tides will out of which over 1,400 are classified as amplify once again. Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). € The upcoming changes in the lunar cycle will z PHAs are currently defined based on para- pose a serious threat, as the amplifiedhigh tides meters that measure the asteroid’s potential coupled with the rising sea levels will make the to make threatening close approaches to risk of flooding far greater acrossall coastal regions the Earth. of the globe. z Specifically, all asteroids with an Earth Minimum z It raises the baseline, and the more the baseline Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 is raised, the smaller the weather event to au or less and an absolute magnitude (H) of cause flooding. 22.0 or less are considered PHAs. € The high tide-associated floods—also known as nuisance floods or sunny day floods—may occur in clusters that could last for months or even for Moon’s Wobble Effect longer periods. z This surge will be closely associated with the Why in News position of the Moon, Earth and the Sun. Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Tides Administration (NASA) has highlighted Moon’s Wobble ¾ About: as a potential problem in the near future. € Tides can be defined as the lternatea rise and Key Points fall of the ocean water. ¾ Moon’s Wobble: € When the Moon makes its elliptical orbit, its velocity varies and alters causing our perspective of the “light side” to appear at slightly different angles. This is what it calls the Moon’s wobble or that is how it appears to our eyes. € It is a cyclical shift in the moon’s orbit, it is a regular swaying (Oscillation) in the moon’s orbit. € It was first documented way back in 1728. This wobble takes over an 18.6-year period to complete. It acts as a background of sea level rise. ¾ Impact of Wobble on Earth: € The moon wobble impacts the gravitational pull of the moon, and therefore, indirectly influences the ebb and flow of tides on the Earth. € Each wobble cycle has the power to amplify and suppress the tides on Earth. ¾ Occurrence: € z During half of the Moon’s orbit of 18.6 years, It is caused by the combined effects of the the Earth’s regular tides are suppressed i.e. gravitational force exerted on Earth by the Sun, high tides are lower than normal and low tides the gravitational force exerted on Earth by the higher than normal (Current situation). Moon and rotation of the Earth.

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¾ Types: Pegasus Spyware € Spring Tide: It occurs during the full moon and new moon days when the sun, the moon and the earth are in the same line twice each Why in News lunar month all year long, without regard to Recently, it has been reported that Pegasus, the the season. malicious software, has allegedly been used to secretly € Neap Tide: It occurs when the moon is in its monitor and spy on an extensive host of public figures first and last quarter, the ocean waters get in India. drawn in diagonally opposite directions by the gravitational pull of sun and earth resulting in Key Points low tides. ¾ About Pegasus: ¾ Stages of Tidal Changes: € It is a type of malicious software or malware € High tide is the stage when the tidal crest arrives classified as a spyware. at a particular location on shore, raising the z It is designed to gain access to devices, without local sea level. the knowledge of users, and gather personal € Low tide is the stage when the trough arrives, information and relay it back to whoever it is lowering the local sea level. that is using the software to spy. € Flood tide is a rising or incoming tide between € Pegasus has been developed by the Israeli firm low tide and high tide. NSO Group that was set up in 2010. € Ebb tide is a falling or outgoing tide between € The earliest version of Pegasus discovered, which high tide and low tide. was captured by researchers in 2016, infected phones through what is called spear-phishing z The vertical distance between high tide and low tide is the tidal range. – text messages or emails that trick a target into clicking on a malicious link. € Since then, however, NSO’s attack capabilities have become more advanced. Pegasus infections can be achieved through so-called “zero-click” attacks, which do not require any interaction from the phone’s owner in order to succeed. z These will often exploit “zero-day” vulnerabilities, which are flaws or bugs in an operating system that the mobile phone’s manufacturer does not ¾ Impact: yet know about and so has not been able to fix. € Tides affect other aspects of oceanic life, ¾ Targets: including the reproductive activities of fish and € Human Rights activists, journalists and lawyers ocean plants. around the world have been targeted with phone € High tides help in navigation. They raise malware sold to authoritarian governments by an the water level close to the shores which Israeli surveillance firm. helps the ships to arrive at the harbour more € Indian ministers, government officials and opposition easily. leaders also figure in the list of people whose phones € Tides stirr the ocean water thatmakes habitable may have been compromised by the spyware. climatic conditions and balance the temperatures z In 2019, WhatsApp filed a lawsuit in the US on the planets. court against Israel’s NSO Group, alleging that € The fast movement of water during the inflow the firm was incorporating cyber-attacks on and outflow will provide a source of renewable the application by infecting mobile devices with energy to communities living along the coast. malicious software.

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¾ Recent Steps Taken in India: ¾ Phishing: It is the method of trying to gather personal € Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative: It was launched information using deceptive e-mails and websites. in 2018 with an aim to spread awareness about ¾ Denial of Service attacks: A Denial-of-Service (DoS) cybercrime and building capacity for safety attack is an attack meant to shut down a machine or measures for Chief Information Security Officers network, making it inaccessible to its intended users. (CISOs) and frontline IT staff across all government € DoS attacks accomplish this by flooding the departments. target with traffic, or sending it information that € National Cyber security Coordination Centre triggers a crash. (NCCC): In 2017, the NCCC was developed to scan ¾ Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks: Also known as internet traffic and communication metadata (which eavesdropping attacks, occur when attackers insert are little snippets of information hidden inside themselves into a two-party transaction. each communication) coming into the country to € Once the attackers interrupt the traffic, they can detect real-time cyber threats. filter and steal data. € Cyber Swachhta Kendra: In 2017, this platform ¾ : SQL stands for was introduced for internet users to clean their SQL Injection Structured Query Language, a programming language used to computers and devices by wiping out viruses and communicate with databases. malware. € Many of the servers that store critical data for € Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): websites and services use SQL to manage the I4C was recently inaugurated by the government. data in their databases. z National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has also € A SQL injection attack specifically targets such been launched pan India. kinds of servers, using malicious code to get the € Computer Emergency Response Team - India server to divulge information it normally wouldn’t. (CERT-IN): It is the nodal agency which deals with ¾ Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Similar to an SQL injection cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing. attack, this attack also involves injecting malicious € Legislation: code into a website, but in this case the website z Information Technology Act, 2000. itself is not being attacked. z Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. € Instead the malicious code the attacker has ¾ International Mechanisms: injected, only runs in the user’s browser when € International Telecommunication Union (ITU): It they visit the attacked website, and it goes after is a specialized agency within the United Nations the visitor directly, not the website. which plays a leading role in the standardization ¾ Social Engineering: It is an attack that relies on and development of telecommunications and human interaction to trick users into breaking security cyber security issues. procedures in order to gain sensitive information € Budapest Convention on Cybercrime: It is an that is typically protected. international treaty that seeks to address Internet and computer crime (cybercrime) by harmonizing Hubble Space Telescope national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. It came into force on 1st July 2004. Why in News z India is not a signatory to this convention. NASA has returned the science instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to operational status, Types of Cyber Attacks almost a month after suspending their work due to trouble ¾ Malware: It is short for malicious software, refers with its payload computer. to any kind of software that is designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer Key Points network. Ransomware, Spy ware, Worms, viruses, ¾ About: and Trojans are all varieties of malware. € It is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble.

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€ The observatory is the first major optical telescope € The disc surrounding a star ‘Beta Pictoris’, which to be placed in space and has made groundbreaking was discovered in 1984, was found to be constituted discoveries in the field of astronomy since its launch by two planets, light-scattering dust and debris (into Low Earth orbit in 1990). in 2012. z It is said to be the “most significant advance in € It captured the ‘Galaxy Cluster Abell 2744’ in 2013. astronomy since Galileo’s telescope.” It is 3.5 billion light-years away and has several € It is a part of NASA’s Great Observatories Program clusters of small galaxies in it. - a family of four space-based observatories, each z It also poses a strong gravitational field which observing the Universe in a different kind of light. acts as a lens to reflect the light of almost 3,000 z The other missions in the program include the background galaxies. visible-light Spitzer Space Telescope, Compton € Captured an encounter of a comet named C/2013 Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO), and the A1 with Mars in 2014. Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO). z The ‘Comet Siding Spring’ passed with a distance € Large and Versatile: of just 87,000 miles to that of Mars. z It is larger than a school bus in size (13.3 meters), € The ‘Gum 29’, a vibrant stellar being ground, and has a 7.9 feet mirror. which is 20,000 light-years away, consisting of a z It captures images of deep space playing a giant cluster of 3,000 stars was captured in 2014. major role in helping astronomers understand z This behemoth cluster of stars is called the universe by observing the most distant stars, ‘Westerlund 2’. galaxies and planets. € Captured the disintegration of an ancient comet € Data Open to People: 332P/Ikeya-Murakami in 2016. z NASA also allows anyone from the public to € The Triangulum Galaxy was snapped depicting the search the Hubble database for which new specific areas of star birth with a bright blue light galaxy it captured, what unusual did it notice spreading across the galaxy in beautiful nebulas about our stars, solar system and planets and of hot gas. what patterns of ionised gases it observed, on € Picture of ‘Galaxy ESO 243-49, which had a any specific day. medium-sized black hole in 2012. ¾ Important Contribution of HST: z The 20,000 suns sized black hole was positioned € Expansion of the Universe was accelerating on a glacial plane of the galaxy. (1990s), this in turn led to a conclusion that most ¾ Successor of HST: of the cosmos was made up of mystery “stuff” € A successor to Hubble, the James Webb Space called dark energy. Telescope (JWST), is scheduled to launch later € Snapshot of Southern Ring Nebula (1995), it this year. showed two stars, a bright white star and a fainter € But many astronomers hope that the two will be dull star at the centre of the nebula where the able to operate alongside each other - at least for dull star was indeed creating the whole nebula. some period of time. € Collusion of two dwarf galaxies (1998) one of which is I Zwicky 18. This led to the formation of James Webb Space Telescope a new Star. ¾ The James Webb Space Telescope (also called JWST or Webb) will be a large infrared telescope with a € Colourful patterns of gasesin a black hole powered 6.5-meter primary mirror. galaxy known as the ‘Circinus Galaxy’(1999). ¾ The telescope will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket € Collision between two galaxies UGC 06471 and from . UGC 06472 (2000). French Guiana in 2021 ¾ It will study every phase in the history of our Universe, € Snapshot of Neptune (2011): The image of the most distant planet revealed the formation of high- ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big altitude clouds composed of methane ice crystals. Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of

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supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program. The of our own Solar System. mission is called Crew-2. ¾ Webb is an international collaboration between Key Points NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). ¾ About Nauka Module: € Nauka means Science in Russian. This is Russia’s most ambitious research facility in space and Nauka Module of Russia is fitted with an oxygen generator, robotic cargo crane, a toilet and a bed for Russian astronauts. Why in News € This was sent into orbit using a Proton rocket Recently, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, (family of rockets in Russia - the most powerful in launched its biggest space laboratory named Nauka to Russia’s space inventory) and will take eight days the International Space Station (ISS). to reach the ISS. z During this period, engineers and flight controllers International Space Station will test Nauka in space, and prepare for its ¾ ISS is a habitable artificial satellite - the single largest arrival on the space station. man-made structure in low earth orbit. € It will replace Pirs, and will be attached to the ¾ It is a collaborative effort between five participating critical Zvezda module,which provides all of the space agencies: NASA (National Aeronautics and space station’s life support systems and serves as Space Administration), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA the structural and functional centre of the Russian (Japan), ESA (Europe) and CSA (Canada). Orbital Segment (ROS). ¾ A space station isessentially a large spacecraft that z Pirs has been part of the space station since remains in low-earth orbit for extended periods September 2001, functioning as a docking port of time. for Russian visiting spacecraft and an airlock for ¾ It is like a large laboratory in space, and Russian spacewalks. allows astronauts to come aboard and stay for ¾ Significance: weeks or months to carry out experiments in € It will increase the habitable volume of the ISS to microgravity. 70 cubic Metres. Cosmonauts will use the extra space to conduct experiments and to store cargo. Other Space Stations € Nauka will serve as a new science facility, docking ¾ China has launched an unmanned module “Tianhe” . of its permanent space station that it plans to port, and spacewalk airlock for future operations complete by the end of 2022. € For more than 20 years, people have been carrying out research under microgravity conditions which ¾ India is also planning to launch its own space station is not possible on earth, this module will help by 2030, joining the league of US, Russia, and China augment the ongoing research. to an elite space club. z Research is being carried out in various disciplines ¾ Earlier, four astronauts were launched to the ISS from such as, biology, human physiology, and physical, Florida as part of a collaboration between NASA and material and space science.

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Environment and Ecology

Highlights z Sutlej River Pollution z New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency z International Tiger Day z Changing Landscape of Alps: Europe z Gross Environment Product (GEP) z Roadmap for India’s Offshore Wind Energy z G20 Energy and Climate Meet z New Gecko Species: Odisha z Earth Overshoot Day, 2021 z Amazon Forests: No Longer Carbon Sinks z Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against Ban On Firecrackers z India’s Forest Cover & Wasteland z Genome of Salt-secreting Mangrove Species Decoded

z The more organic matter there is (e.g., in sewage Sutlej River Pollution and polluted bodies of water), the greater the BOD; and the greater the BOD, the lower the Why in News amount of dissolved oxygen available for higher animals such as fishes. The pollution in river Sutlej has posed serious health threats to the people living around the Indira Gandhi € Leather Industry: Another seasonal rivulet, Chitti Canal. Bein and its sub-drain, Kala Sanghian drain, in the Jalandhar district are equally responsible for high ¾ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed pollution in the Sutlej river. Punjab and Rajasthan governments to submit quarterly compliance reports to Jal Shakti ministry z The untreated discharge from Jalandhar’s leather about remedial action being taken to curb the inflow goods industry is one of the major reasons of effluent discharge into the Satluj and Beas. behind Chitti Bein’s pollution. ¾ Component of Pollutants: Key Points € Traces of chromium and arsenic can be found ¾ Source of Sutlej’s Pollution: in the Sutlej after the confluence of Buddha € Three Major Sources Polluting the Buddha Nallah: Nullah. Buddha Nallah (Tributary) is a major source of € Prevalence of mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium pollution in the river Sutlej. and selenium in more than permissible limits z Untreated sewage waste from Ludhiana city (MPL) in the groundwater and surface water in sewage treatment plants (STP). and around drains like Buddha Nallah, Chitti Bein and Kala Sanghian. z Untreated industrial effluents fromdyeing units and outlets that directly release sewage and € Heavy metals and pesticides were also detected in industrial waste into the stream. fodder, vegetable, milk, urine and blood samples. z Small-scale industries like units on electroplating, ¾ Impact on Indira Gandhi Canal: hosiery, steel rolling mills, etc mainly contribute € The Indira Gandhi Canal is the longest canal in to the wastewater in the nallah. the country. € High Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): Buddha z It starts from Harike Barrage, a few kilometres Nullah contributes about 16,672 kilogram a day below the confluence of the Satluj and Beas of BOD load and East Bein (a rivulet in Doaba rivers in Punjab, flows through Ludhiana and in Punjab) contributes about 20,900 kg / day of terminates in the Thar Desert in northwest BOD load. Rajasthan.

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€ The canal is a source of drinking and irrigation in the north and western Rajasthan. International Tiger Day z It provides water to 1.75 crore people living in 7,500 villages across eight districts in the state. Why in News € The water in the Indira Gandhi canal has apparently Recently, at the virtual meeting celebrating Inter- turned black due to the presence of pollutants in it. national Tiger Day (29th July), Prime Minister of India z The pollution has caused several health reiterated India’s commitment to ensuring safe habitats complications among people such as skin for its tigers and nurturing tiger-friendly eco systems. diseases, gastroenteritis, indigestion and loss ¾ Also, at this meeting, 14 Tiger Reserves in India of eyesight. received the accreditation of the Global Conservation Sutlej River Assured|Tiger Standards (CA|TS). ¾ The ancient name of Sutlej River is Zaradros (Ancient Key Points Greek) Shutudri or Shatadru (Sanskrit). ¾ It is the longest ¾ Conservation Status of Tiger: of the five trib- € Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I utaries of the € International Union for Conservation of Nature Indus River that (IUCN) Red List: Endangered. give the Pun- € Convention on International Trade in Endangered jab (meaning Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I. “Five Rivers”) ¾ Significance of Tiger Conservation: its name. € Tiger conservation is a symbol of conservation ¾ Jhelum, Chen- of forests. ab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are € The tiger is a unique animal which plays apivotal main tributaries role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. of Indus. € It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food ¾ It rises on the north slope of the Himalayas in Lake chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates La’nga in southwestern Tibet. (primarily large mammals) in check. € Flowing northwestward and then west- z Thus, Tiger helps in maintaining the balance southwestward through Himalayan gorges, it between prey herbivores and the vegetation enters and crosses Himachal Pradesh before upon which they feed. beginning its flow through the Punjab plain € Therefore, Tiger Conservation is not just about near Nangal. saving a beautiful animal. € Continuing southwestward in a broad channel, z It is about making sure that we live a little longer it receives the Beas River (and forms 65 miles as the forests are known to provide ecological (105 km) of the India-Pakistan border before services like clean air, water, pollination, entering Pakistan and flowing another 220 temperature regulation etc. miles (350 km) to join the Chenab River west € Further, the significance of Tiger conservation can be of Bahawalpur. reflected by theStatus of Leopards, Co-predators z Sutlej River meets the Beas River in Harike in and Megaherbivores-2018’ report. the Ferozpur district before entering Pakistan. z According to the report, the overall leopard € The combined rivers then form the Panjnad, population in the tiger range landscape of India the link between the Five Rivers and the Indus. in 2018 was estimated at 12,852. ¾ Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project is located on z This is a significant increase from the 2014 River Sutlej in Shimla and Kullu districts of Himachal figure that was 7,910 in forested habitats of 18 Pradesh. tiger bearing states of the country.

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z The report is a testimony to the fact that con- z There are currently 13 tiger range countries - servation of tigers leads to the conservation of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, the entire ecosystem. Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, ¾ Tiger Conservation Projects in India: Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. € Project Tiger 1973: Project Tiger is a Centrally € CA|TS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, check if their management will lead to successful Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched in tiger conservation. 1973. It provides havens for tigers in the country’s € It was officially launched in 2013. national parks. € The Global Tiger Forum (GTF), an international NGO € National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): working on tiger conservation, andWorld Wildlife It is a statutory body under the MoEFCC and was Fund India are the two implementing partners established in 2005 following the recommendations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority for of the Tiger Task Force. CATS assessment in India. ¾ India’s Tiger Conservation Status: € 14 Tiger Reserves which have been accredited are: z and € India is home to over 70% of the tiger population Manas, Kaziranga Orang Tiger Reserve globally. in Assam, z Satpura, Kanha and Panna Tiger Reserve in € India is home to 51 tiger reserves spread across Madhya Pradesh, 18 states and the last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population. z Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, z € India achieved the target of doubling the tiger Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, population four years ahead of schedule (2022) of z Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, the St. Petersburg Declaration on tiger conservation. z Sunderbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, € India’s strategy of tiger conservation attaches z Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala, topmost importance to involving local communities. z Bandipur Tiger Reserve of Karnataka z Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

Gross Environment Product (GEP)

Why in News Recently, the Uttarakhand government has an- nounced that it will initiate valuation of its natural re- sources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP). ¾ It is along the lines of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP gives the economic output from the consumers’ side. It is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade (the difference between exports and imports). ¾ Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS): Key Points € CA|TS has been agreed upon as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries ¾ About GEP: (TRCs) and has been developed by tiger and € It was established back in 1997 by ecological protected area experts. economists like Robert Costanza at the global level.

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€ It is an assessment system to measure ecological € The value of ecosystem services is about twice as status. much as the global GDP. Therefore, it would help € It is considered as the product and service value in the conservation of the environment and also that the ecosystem provides for human welfare help save us from the effects of climate change. and economic and social sustainable development, ¾ Issues: including provisioning, regulating and cultural € The decision appears to be a welcome step, but ecosystem services. going ahead with the jargon raises serious doubts € Overall, GEP accounts for the economic value of on the intent of the government. It may confuse the ecosystem in providing products and services, policy makers and negate the past efforts. and it is one of the components of green GDP. € The purpose of introducing GEP is not transparent. z Green GDP is an indicator of economic z Is it a process of simple valuation of a state’s growth with environmental factors taken into ecological wealth, or to assess what part of the consideration along with the standard GDP of a GDP it contributes. country. It factors biodiversity losses and costs z Is it an attempt to claim a budget from the centre attributed to climate change. against ecosystem services the state provides € The term “ecosystem services” was coined in to the rest of the country and / or a process of 1981 to attract academics towards this aspect, providing benefits to its own residents. its definition is still in the process of evolution. € Ecosystems that can be measured include natural G20 Energy and Climate Meet ecosystems such as forests, grassland, wetland, desert, freshwater and ocean, and artificial Why in News systems that are based on natural processes like farmland, pastures, aquaculture farms and urban At the recent G20 Climate Meet, India urged the green land, etc. group of 20 nations (G20)having per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions above the global average to bring it down to the world average, thereby vacating ‘some’ carbon space for developing nations. ¾ This will support the developmental aspirations of the developing nations. ¾ Presently, Italy holds the G20 Presidency and the Climate Meet is being seen as a prelude to the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 26) meeting in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021.

¾ Need: Key Points € Uttarakhand, through its biodiversity, gives services ¾ India’s Stand: to the tune of Rs 95,112 crore per year to the nation. € There is a need to cut absolute emissions rapidly € The state has over 71% area under forests. while taking into account the Paris Agreement € It is also home to the Himalayas and also is the which emphasized on: origin point of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and z Respective historical responsibilities, Sharada as well as home to wildlife reserves like z Delivery of promised climate finance and Corbett andRajaji Tiger Reserves. technologies at low cost keeping in perspective € Uttarakhand is a state which provides a lot of per capita emissions, environment services and in continuity as a result z Differences in per capitaGDP (Gross Domestic of which, there is a natural degradation in those Product) and services. z The unfinished agenda for sustainable devel- ¾ Significance: opment.

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G20 Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) ¾ The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and ¾ Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) the European Union, with representatives of the is a principle within the United Nations Framework International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ¾ The G20 membership comprises a mix of the ¾ It acknowledges different capabilities and differing world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, responsibilities of individual countries in addressing representing about two-thirds of the world’s climate change. population, 85% of global gross domestic product, ¾ The principle of ‘common but differentiated 80% of global investment and over 75% of global responsibility’ evolved from the notion of the trade. ‘common heritage of mankind’. ¾ The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, ¾ The principle of CBDR is enshrined in Earth Summit Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, ¾ CBDR is based on two elements of responsibilities: Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United € One is the common responsibility of all the Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. states to cater to the concerns of environmental ¾ It does not have any permanent secretariat or protection and sustainable development. headquarters. € Another is of differentiated responsibility € India noted the pledges made by some countries enabling the states to act, for environment to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions or carbon protection, in their national capacity and as per Neutrality by or around mid century. their national priority. z However, this may not be adequate in view of ¾ The principle recognizes historical differences in the fast depleting available carbon space. contributions of developed and developing States z Keeping in view the legitimate need of to global environmental problems and differences developing countries to grow, it urged G20 in their respective economic and technical capacity countries to commit to bringing down per to tackle these problems. capita emissions to Global average by 2030. z To provide a clear roadmap for cities towards z Carbon neutrality means having a balance combating Climate Change while planning and between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon implementing their actions, including investments. from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. € National Mission on Sustainable Habitatis one of z Carbon space is the amount of carbon (or CO2) the eight missions under national climate change that can be put into the atmosphere without action plan and aims to make cities sustainable this leading to a level of warming—or underlying through improvements in energy efficiency in

concentrations of CO2—that can be considered buildings, management of solid waste & shift to dangerous or otherwise undesirable. public transport. € Stressed on Common But Differentiated Respon- € Climate Practitioners India Network (CPIN): It sibilities (CBDR) to combat climate change. is first-of-its-kind network developed by Climate € Mentioned its plans of installing 450 GW (Giga Centre for Cities (C-Cube) to support Cities and Watt) of RE (Renewable Energy) by 2030, enhanced Practitioners across India. ambitions in bio-fuels, India’s NDCs (Nationally z C-Cube wants to create a platform for Climate Determined Contributions) and various other Practitioners across all cities in India to collaborate initiatives taken by India on Urban Climate Action. and contribute towards implementing Climate ¾ India’s initiatives under Urban Climate Action: Actions. € Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework € Urban Forestry: The government of India in 2020 (CSCAF): CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a launched the Nagar Van Scheme. The Nagar Van climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and (Urban Forests) aims to develop 200 Urban Forests development in India. across the country in the next five years.

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z Urban forestry is defined as the planting, z Global Footprint Network is an international non maintenance, care and protection of tree profit organization founded in the year 2003. populations in urban settings. It’s key strategy has been to make available ¾ India led Global Collaborations to Fight Climate robust Ecological Footprint data. Change: z The Ecological Footprint is a metric that com- € International Solar Alliance prehensively compares human demand on nature against nature’s capacity to regenerate. € Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure € Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological Earth Overshoot Day, 2021 resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s Why in News demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year: According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), humanity has again used up all biological resources that z (Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological our planet regenerates during the entire year by 29th Footprint) x 365 = Earth Overshoot Day July, 2021. ¾ Causes: ¾ Humanity currently uses 74% more than what the € The prime driver was the 6.6% increase in the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate — or 1.7 Earths. global carbon footprint in 2020. ¾ From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, z According to the World Health Organization humanity operates on ecological deficit spending. (WHO), a carbon footprint is a measure of the impact people’s activities have on the

amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the burning of fossil fuels and is

expressed as a weight of CO2 emissions produced in tonnes. € There was also a 0.5% decrease in ‘global forest biocapacity’ due to a rise in deforestation of the Amazon’s rainforests. z Some 1.1 million hectares of rainforest were lost in Brazil alone, which is home to the largest swathe of Amazonian rainforest. ¾ Predictions: € Even worse, there would be a 43% year-over-year increase in deforestation in 2021. Key Points € The carbon footprint of transportation will be lower this year than pre-pandemic levels. ¾ About: z CO emissions from road transport and domestic € The day marks the date when humanity’s demand 2 air travel will be 5% below 2019 levels. for ecological resources (fish and forests, for z CO emissions due to instance) and services in a given year exceeds 2 international aviation what the Earth can regenerate in that year. will be 33% below 2019 levels. € But global energy-related CO emissions will € The concept of Earth Overshoot Day was 2 first conceived by Andrew Simms of the UK increase 4.8% from last year as economies try to think tank New Economics Foundation, which recover from the impact of Covid-19. partnered with Global Footprint Network in 2006 € Global coal use is estimated to constitute40% of to launch the first global Earth Overshoot Day the total carbon footprint. campaign. ¾ Suggestions:

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€ A business-as-usual scenario will simply not work if € In 2017, the Supreme court had banned the use the date for World Overshoot Day is to be pushed and sale of toxic crackers during the celebration behind. owing to diwali, Christmas, etc., on the basis of € A number of measures can be taken such as cutting a petition filed by two infants. down on food wastage, commercial technologies z They had said the air pollution caused by various for buildings, industrial processes and electricity factors, especially firecrackers, had made Delhi production and cutting down on transportation. a gas chamber. ¾ Related Global Initiatives: z They pleaded for their right to life. € The Conference of the Parties (COPs): € The court dismissed arguments that bursting z For nearly three decades the United Nations crackers was a fundamental right and an essential (UN) has been bringing together almost every practice during religious festivals like Diwali. country on earth for global climate summits z The court held that the Right to Freedom of called COPs. Religion (Article 25) is subject to Right to life z In that time climate change has gone from (Article 21). being a fringe issue to a global priority. z If a particular religious practice is threa- z This year will be the 26th annual summit – giving tening the health and lives of people, such it the name COP26 will take place in Glasgow, UK. practice is not entitled to protection under € Paris Agreement: Article 25. z It is a legally binding international treaty on ¾ NGT Order: climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at € The NGT in its December 2020 order said that COP 21 in Paris in December 2015 and entered only green crackers (which use less polluting raw into force in November 2016. materials) would be permitted for Christmas and z Its goal is to limit global warming to well below New Year, in areas where the ambient air quality 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared was in the moderate or below categories. to pre-industrial levels. z However, owing to Covid-19 pandemic, NGT ¾ Some Indian Initiatives: again prohibited the sale and use of firecrackers. € National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) € The firecrackers companies argued that the ban € Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms was an impediment to their livelihoods. € UJALA scheme € In reply to the argument, the Tribunal had reasoned € National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) that the “right to business is not absolute (Article 19 (1) (g)) and there is no right to violate air quality Supreme Court Dismisses Plea and noise level norms. ¾ Harmful Effects of Crackers: Against Ban On Firecrackers € Firecrackers contain lots of heavy metals and toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead, chromium, Why in News aluminium, magnesium, nitrates, carbon monoxide, Recently, the Supreme Court has dismissed appeals copper, potassium, sodium, zinc oxide, manganese challenging the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order dioxide etc. which had imposed a complete ban on the sale and use € These chemicals, if inhaled or ingested, can of all firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic in NCR cause severe effects in the health of people like and other cities in India. heart diseases, respiratory or nervous system ¾ The order was given in the context of a poor Air disorders. Quality Index (AQI), owing to the burning of crackers. € Further, noise pollution causes restlessness, temporary or permanent hearing loss, high blood Key Points pressure; sleep disturbance and even poor cognitive ¾ Background: development in kids.

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Mangrove Genome of Salt-secreting ¾ About: Mangrove Species Decoded € A mangrove is a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, Why in News often underwater. € The word ‘mangrove’ Recently, the scientists for the first time have may refer to the habitat as a whole or to the trees and shrubs in the decoded the reference-grade whole genome sequence mangrove swamp. of a highly salt-tolerant and salt-secreting mangrove species, Avicennia marina. € Mangroves are flowering trees, belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, ¾ This study was led by the Department of Biotechnology Combretaceae, and Arecaceae. (DBT)-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar. ¾ Features of Mangroves: Key Points € Saline environment: They can survive under extreme hostile environments such as high salt ¾ Avicennia Marina: and low oxygen conditions. € It is one of the most prominent mangroves species € Low oxygen: Underground tissue of any plant found in all mangrove formations in India. needs oxygen for respiration. But in a mangrove € It is a salt-secreting and extraordinarily salt- environment, the oxygen in soil is limited or nil. tolerant mangrove species that grows optimally Hence the mangrove root system absorbs oxygen in 75% seawater and tolerates >250% seawater. from the atmosphere. € It is among the rare plant species, which can z Mangroves have special roots for this purpose excrete 40% of the salt through the salt glands called breathing roots or pneumatophores. in the leaves, besides its extraordinary capacity z These roots have numerous pores through to exclude salt entry to the roots. which oxygen enters the underground tissues. € It is also referred to as grey mangrove or white € Succulent leaves: Mangroves, like desert plants, mangrove. store fresh water in thick succulent leaves. ¾ Significance of Study: z A waxy coating on the leaves seals in water and € This study assumes significance as agriculture minimises evaporation. productivity globally is affected due to abiotic € Viviparous: Their seeds germinate while still stress factors such as limited water availability attached to the parent tree. Once germinated, and salinization of soil and water. the seedling grows into a propagule. z Availability of water is a significant challenge to z The mature propagule then drops into the crop production in dryland areas, accounting water and gets transported to a different spot, for 40% of the world’s total land area. eventually taking root in a solid ground. z Salinity is prevalent in 900 million hectares ¾ Threat: globally (with an estimated 6.73 million ha in € Constructions: At least one third of all mangrove India), and it is estimated to cause an annual forests has been lost during the last few decades. loss of 27 billion USD. Coastal development, including construction of € The genomic resources generated in the study shrimp farms, hotels, and other structures, is the will pave the way for researchers to study the primary threat to mangroves. potential of the identified genes for developing z Mangrove forests are cleared to make room drought and salinity tolerant varietiesof important for agricultural land and human settlements. crop species of the coastal region that is significant € Overharvesting: Mangrove trees are used for for India with 7,500 m of coastline and two major firewood, construction wood, charcoal production, island systems. and animal fodder.

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z In some parts of the world, there has been z Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu has a vast expanse overharvesting which is no longer sustainable. of water covered with mangrove forests. It is € Others: Overfishing, pollution, and rising sea home to many aquatic bird species. levels are the other threats to mangrove forests z West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove and their ecosystem. cover, followed by Gujarat 23.66% and A&N ¾ Area Covered: Islands 12.39%. € Global: Mangroves can be found in over 118 countries and territories in the tropical and New Initiatives in subtropical regions of the world. Building Energy Efficiency z Asia has the largest coverage of the world’s mangroves, followed by Africa, North and Why in News Central America, Oceania and South America. Recently, “Aiming for Sustainable Habitat: New Initia- z Approximately 75% of the world’s mangrove was launched forests are found in just 15 countries. tives in Building Energy Efficiency 2021” by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). € India: ¾ These initiatives seek to enhance energy efficiency z According to the , State of Forest Report 2019 in the building sector and were launched as part of in the country is 4,975 sq mangrove cover ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’. km, which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area. Bureau of Energy Efficiency ¾ „ Mangrove cover in the country has increased The BEE is a statutory body established through the by 54 sq km (1.10%) as compared to the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 under the Union previous assessment (2017). Ministry of Power. z The deltas of the Ganges, Mahanadi, Krishna, ¾ It assists in developing policies and strategies Godavari, and the Cauvery rivers contain with the primary objective of reducing the energy mangrove forests. intensity of the Indian economy. z The backwaters in Kerala have a high density ¾ BEE coordinates with designated consumers, of mangrove forest. designated agencies, and other organizations to z The Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest identify and utilize the existing resources and mangrove region in the world and a UNESCO infrastructure, in performing its functions. World Heritage Site. Key Points „ It spans from the Hooghly River in West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh. ¾ Initiatives Launched: € z The Bhitarkanika mangrove system in Odisha Eco Niwas Samhita 2021: is India’s second largest mangrove forest. z It is an Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings (ECBC-R) to give a further fillip to India’s energy conservation efforts. z It specifies code compliance approaches and minimum energy performance requirements for building services, and verification framework with Eco Niwas Samhita 2021. € Hand Book for Learning: z The web-based platform ‘The Handbook of Rep- licable Designs for Energy Efficient Residential Buildings’ as a learning tool, which can be used to create a pool of ready-to-use resources of replicable designs to construct energy-efficient homes in India.

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€ Online Directory of Building Materials: e.g. 175 GW of installed capacity of renewable z Creating an Online Directory of Building Materials energy by 2022, 24×7 Power for all, Housing for that would envisage the process of establishing all by 2022, 100 smart cities mission, promotion standards for energy efficient building materials. of e- mobility, electrification of railway sector, 100% electrification of households, Solarization € NEERMAN Awards: of agricultural pump sets, and promotion of clean z NEERMAN Awards, (National Energy Efficiency cooking. Roadmap for Movement towards Affordable & Natural Habitat) were announced, with the ¾ Potential of Energy Efficiency: goal of encouraging exceptionally efficient € Energy Efficiency has the maximum GHG abatement building designs complying with BEE’s Energy potentialof around 51% followed by renewables Conservation Building Codes. (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), carbon capture and storage (8%) as per the World Energy Outlook € Online Star Rating Tool: (WEO 2010). z It provides performance analysis to help z World Energy Outlook (WEO) is the flagship professionals decide the best options to pick for energy-efficiency of their homes. publication of theInternational Energy Agency. € India can avoid building 300 GW of new power z It was launched for Energy Efficient Homes, with implementation of created to improve energy-efficiency and reduce generation up to 2040 ambitious energy efficiency policies. energy consumption in individual homes. ¾ Positives: € Training: € Successful implementation of Energy Efficiency z Training of over 15,000 Architects, Engineers and Measures contributed to electricity savings of Government officials on Energy Conservation 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the Building Code (ECBC) 2017 and Eco Niwas country and emission reduction of 108.28 million Samhita 2021. tonnes of CO during 2017-18. ¾ Significance: 2 ¾ Other initiatives to Promote Energy Conservation € The building sector is the second largest consumer and Energy Efficiency: of electricity after industry but it is expected to € PAT Scheme: become the largest energy consuming sector by 2030. z Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT) is a market based mechanism to enhance the cost € These initiatives will help enhance the energy- effectiveness in improving the Energy Efficiency in efficiency levels in residential buildings across the Energy Intensive industries through certification country, thereby leading to sustainable habitation. of energy saving which can be traded. z The initiatives will go a long way tomake India z It is a part of the National Mission for Enhanced more energy-efficient. Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), which is one of the Energy Efficiency in India eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). ¾ Energy Efficiency: € Standards and Labeling: € Energy efficiency means using less energy to z The scheme was launched in 2006 and is perform the same task – that is, eliminating currently invoked for equipments/appliances energy waste. Room Air Conditioner (Fixed/VariableSpeed), € Energy efficiency brings a variety of benefits: Ceiling Fan, Colour Television, Computer, Direct reducing GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions, Cool Refrigerator, Distribution Transformer, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering Domestic Gas Stove, General Purpose Industrial our costs on a household and economy-wide level. Motor, LED Lamps, Agricultural Pumpset, etc. ¾ Transition: € Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC): € India’s energy sector is set for a transition with z It was developed for new commercial buildings recent developmental ambitions of the government in 2007.

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z It sets minimum energy standards for new € Even if the world were to fully implement the 2015 commercial buildings having a connected load Paris Agreement, two-thirds of the Alpine glaciers of 100kW (kilowatt) or contract demand of 120 will likely be lost. KVA (kilovolt-ampere) and above. z The Paris Agreement is a legally binding € Demand Side Management: international treaty on climate change. It was z DSM is the selection, planning, and imple- adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, in mentation of measures intended to have an December 2015. influence on the demand or customer-side of ¾ Alps: the electric meter € About: z The Alps emerged during the Alpine orogeny Changing (mountain-building event), an event that began about 65 million years ago as the Mesozoic Era Landscape of Alps: Europe was drawing to a close. z Alps are young fold mountains with rugged Why in News relief and high conical peaks. A recent study by the ETH technical university in z They are the most prominent of western Europe’s Zurich, Switzerland shows that climate change has physiographic regions. Some 750 miles long and dramatically altered the Swiss Alp landscape. more than 125 miles wide at their broadest point between Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Key Points and Verona, Italy, the Alps cover more than ¾ Important Findings: 80,000 square miles. The Alps extend north from the subtropical Meltng glaciers have created more than 1,000 z € new lakes across the mountains. Mediterranean coast near Nice, France, to z The inventory of Swiss Glacial lakes showed Lake Geneva before trending east-northeast to that almost 1,200 new lakes have formed Vienna, Austria. There they touch the Danube in formerly glaciated regions of the Swiss River and meld with the adjacent plain. Alps since the end of the Little Ice Age around z Because of their arclike shape, the Alps separate 1850 and around 1,000 of them still exist the marine west-coast climates of Europe from today. the Mediterranean areas of France, Italy, and € Glaciers in the Swiss Alps are in steady decline, the Balkan region. losing a full 2% of their volume last year alone. € Countries Covered: z The Alps form part of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania. z Only Switzerland and Austria can be considered true Alpine countries. € Important Peaks: z Mont Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps and in Europe, reaching a lofty 4,804 meters above sea level. It is located in the Graian Alps and lies within France, Switzerland, and Italy. z Monte Rosa is a massif (a compact group of mountains) consisting of several peaks. The highest peak in this range (Dufourspitze) has an elevation of 4,634 meters, claiming the title of Switzerland’s highest peak.

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z Dom, which is located near Monte Rosa, Dom € Offshore wind farms must beat least 200 nautical stands at 4,545 meters and is known as one of miles from the shore and 50 feet deep in the ocean. the “easier” tall peaks in the Alps to summit € Offshore wind turbines produce electricity which because of it’s straightforward routes. is returned to shore through cables buried in the z Other major peaks are Liskamm, Weisshorn, ocean floor. Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Grand Combin etc. ¾ Status of Wind Energy in India: Major Mountain Ranges of the World € India’s electricity generation from wind reached 39.2 gigawatts (GW) a year in March 2021. An addition of another 20 GW over the next five years is expected to happen soon. € The compound annual growth rate for wind generation has been 11.39% between 2010 and 2020, and for installed capacity, it has been 8.78%. € More than 95% of commercially exploitable resources are located in seven states: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Roadmap for India’s Offshore Wind Energy

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set a target of installing 5 GW of offshore capacity by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030. ¾ India can generate 127 GW of offshore wind energy with its 7,600 km of coastline.

Key Points ¾ Benefits: ¾ About Offshore Wind Energy: € Wind speed over water bodies is high and is consistent in direction. As a result, offshore wind € Wind energy today typically comes in two different farms generate more electricity per installed “types”: onshore wind farms which are large capacity. installations of wind turbines located on land, and offshore wind farms which are installations € Fewer offshore turbines are requiredto produce located in bodies of water. the same capacity of energy as compared to onshore ones. € Offshore wind energy refers to the deployment of wind farms inside the water bodies. They utilise € Offshore wind farms have a higher CUF (capacity the sea winds to generate electricity. These wind utilisation factor) than onshore wind farms. farms either use fixed-foundation turbines or Therefore, offshore wind powerallows for longer floating wind turbines. operating hours. z A fixed-foundation turbine is built in shallow z A wind turbine’s CUF is equal to the average water, whereas a floating wind turbine is output power divided by the maximum power built in deeper waters where its foundation is capabilities. anchored in the seabed. Floating wind farms € It’s possible to build bigger and taller offshore are still in their infancy. windmills, resulting in increased energy harvest.

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€ Furthermore, the wind flow is not restricted by hills or buildings. ¾ Challenges: € Higher Installation Cost: z Local substructure manufacturers, installations vessels and trained workers are lacking in India. Offshore wind turbinesrequire stronger structures and foundations than onshore wind farms. This can cause higher installation costs. € Higher Maintenance Cost: z The action of waves and even high winds, particularly during storms or hurricanes, can damage wind turbines. Eventually, offshore species of the genus which is distributed in lowland wind farms require maintenance that is more habitats. costly and difficult to perform. ¾ Geckos: ¾ Policies related to Wind Energy: € Geckos are reptiles and are found on all the € National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy: The main continents except Antarctica. These colorful objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, lizards have adapted to habitats from rainforests, 2018 is to provide a framework for promotion of to deserts, to cold mountain slopes. large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems € Most geckos are nocturnal, which means they are for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar active at night, but day geckos are active during resources, transmission infrastructure and land. the day and depend on insects, fruits, and flower € National Offshore Wind Energy Policy: The National nectar. Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October € Geckos are spread across six families: Carphodactyl- 2015 with an objective to develop the offshore idae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae. along the Indian coastline of 7600 km. Zone (EEZ) ¾ Other Species of Gecko in India: € Indian Golden Gecko (family Gekkonidae) is native New Gecko Species: Odisha to India (Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh). It is listed in Schedule 1 of WPA (Wildlife Protection Why in News Act). z IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC) Recently, Odisha’s forest officials have announced € (family Gekkonidae) is widespread measures to preserve the newly discovered tiny gecko Tokay Gecko in the Indo-Malayan region species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus. Protection Status: z Schedule 4 of WPA. Key Points z IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC). ¾ About: € This was first spotted in Ganjam district, Odisha Amazon Forests: in 2014. The new species of Hemiphyllodactylus minimus is the smallest member of the genus No Longer Carbon Sinks with a maximum body size of little over six cm. € It is called Ganjam Slender Gecko. Why in News € The new species is the seventh Indian species of According to a recent study, Amazon Forests have

the genus, the second from the northern Eastern started emitting Carbon dioxide2 (CO ) instead of Ghats and 41st globally. It is the first non-island absorbing it.

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¾ Growing trees and plants have taken up about € The Amazon basin is huge with an area covering a quarter of all fossil fuel emissions since 1960, over 6 million square kilometres, it is nearly with the Amazon playing a major role as the largest twice the size of India. tropical forest. € The basin produces about 20% of the world’s Key Points flow of freshwater into the oceans. ¾ ¾ Findings: Comprising about 40% of Brazil’s total area, it is bounded by the Guiana Highlands to the north, € A significant amount of deforestation (over the the Andes Mountains to the west, the Brazilian course of 40 years) in eastern and southeastern central plateau to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean Brazil has turned the forest into a source of CO 2 to the east. that has the ability to warm the planet. z It might have also affected a long-term decrease in rainfall and increase in temperatures during the dry season. € A part of the Amazon emitting carbon even without fires was particularly worrying. This was most likely the result of each year’s deforestation and fires making adjacent forests more susceptible the next year. ¾ Reasons for Deforestation: € State policies that encourage economic development, such as railway and road expansion projects have led to “unintentional deforestation” in the Amazon and Central America. € Deforestation started in the 1970s and 1980s when large-scale forest conversion for cattle ranching and soy cultivation began.

Amazon Rainforests ¾ These are large tropical rainforests occupying the drainage basin of the Amazon River and its tributaries in northern South America. India’s Forest € Tropical forests are closed-canopy forests growing within 28 degrees north or south of the equator. Cover & Wasteland € They are very wet places, receiving more than 200 cm rainfall per year, either seasonally or Why in News throughout the year. Recently, the Minister for Environment, Forests and € Temperatures are uniformly high - between Climate Change (MoEFCC) informed Rajya Sabha about 20°C and 35°C. the forest area in the country. € Such forests are found in Asia, Australia, Africa, ¾ The data provided was as per the India State of Forest South America, Central America, Mexico and on Report, 2019 that is the 16th biennial assessment of many of the Pacific Islands. India’s forests by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun ¾ The Amazon rainforests cover about 80% of the an organisation under the MoEFCC. Amazon basin and they are home to nearly a fifth of ¾ Information about the Wasteland in the country the world’s land species and is also home to about was also provided as per the Wasteland Atlas, 2019. 30 million people including hundreds of indigenous groups and several isolated tribes. Key Points

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¾ Definition of Forest: Constitutional Provisions for Forests € The word ‘forest’ is not defined in any Central ¾ Forests are included in the Concurrent List in the Forest Act, namely the Indian Forest Act (1927), (Seventh Schedule) of the Constitution of India. or the Forest Conservation Act (1980). ¾ Through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 Forests z The Central government has not laid down any and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds were criterion to define forest. transferred from State to Concurrent List. z The Indian Forest Act, 1927 gives states the ¾ Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it rights to notify Reserved Forests in their areas. shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen € States are responsible for determining their to protect and improve the natural environment definition of forests; this prerogative stems from a including forests and Wildlife. Supreme Court order called the T.N. Godavarman ¾ Article 48 A in the Directive Principles of State Thirumulpad vs the Union of India 1996 judgment. policy, mandates that the State shall endeavor z In the judgement, the Supreme Court interpreted to protect and improve the environment and to that the word “forest” must be understood safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. according to its “dictionary meaning”. z This description covers all statutorily recognised Legislations forests, whether designated as reserved, ¾ India’s forests are currently governed by the National protected or otherwise. Forest Policy, 1988 which has environmental balance ¾ Total Forest Area: and livelihood at its centre. ¾ € The recorded forest area in the country is 7,67,419 sq The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest km, however the ministry has so far not quantified Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 the forest area that has been under dispute. recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers ¾ Category-Wise Forest: to forest resources, on which these communities € Reserved Forests category: were dependent for a variety of needs, including z It is under direct supervision of the Government. livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs. z No public entry allowed for the commercial purpose of cattle grazing. z For instance, it could use grasslands that are z Total area under this category is 4,34,853 sq km. used by communities for grazing. € Protected Forests category: ¾ Governments Initiatives: z It is looked after by the government. € National Mission for a Green India: z Local people are allowed to collect forest z It is one of the eight Missions under the National produce and cattle grazing without causing any Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). serious damage. z It was launched in February, 2014 with the z Total area under this category is 2,18,924 sq km. objective to safeguard the biological resources € Unprotected Forest Category: of our nation and associated livelihoods against z They are unclassified Forests. the peril of adverse climate change and to z No restriction on cutting trees or grazing cattle. recognise the vital impact of forestry on ecological sustainability, biodiversity conservation and z Total area under this category is 1,13,642 sq km. food-, water- and livelihood-security ¾ Wasteland: € National Afforestation Programme (NAP): € As per the Wasteland Atlas, 2019, published by the Ministry of Rural Development, the total z It has been implemented since 2000 for the wasteland in the country is 5,57,665.51 sq km. afforestation of degraded forest lands. € Wasteland is defined not as desertified land, but z It is being implemented by the MoEFCC. land that is not used for agriculture, commercial € Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management use or as forest land. and Planning Authority, (CAMPA Funds):

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z Launched in 2016, 90% of the fund is to be generation, supply of wood saving devices and given to the states while 10% is to be retained allied activities. by the Centre. € National Action Programme to Combat Desert- z The funds can be used for treatment of ification: catchment areas, assisted natural generation, z It was prepared in 2001 to address issues of forest management, wildlife protection increasing desertificationand to take appropriate and management, relocation of villages actions. from protected areas, managing human- z It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, wildlife conflicts, training and awareness Forest and Climate Change.

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Highlights z Chandra Shekahr Azad z Tipu Sultan

z The plan was executed by Chandrashekhar Azad, Chandra Shekahr Azad Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, and Manmathnath Gupta. Why in News € Hindustan Socialist Republican Association: HRA was later reorganised as the Hindustan Socialist On 23rd July, India paid tribute to the freedom fighter Republican Army (HSRA). Chandra Shekahr Azad on his birth anniversary. z It was established in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla in Key Points New Delhi by Chandrasekhar Azad, Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Jogesh ¾ rd Birth: Azad was born on 23 July 1906 in the Alirajpur Chandra Chatterjee. district of Madhya Pradesh. z HSRA planned the shooting of J. P. Saunders, a ¾ Early Life: Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, British Policeman at Lahore in 1928to avenge joined a Non-Cooperation Movement in December the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. 1921. As a result, he was arrested. ¾ Death: He died at Azad Park in Allahabad on 27th € On being presented before a magistrate, he gave February 1931. his name as “Azad” (The Free), his father’s name as “Swatantrata” (Independence) and his residence as “Jail”. Tipu Sultan € Therefore, he came to be known as Chandra Why in News Shekhar Azad. Recently, naming a garden on Tipu Sultan in Mumbai ¾ Contribution to Freedom Movement: sparked a controversy. € Hindustan Republican Association: After the suspension of the non-cooperation movement in Key Points 1922 by Gandhi, Azad joined Hindustan Republican ¾ Brief Profile: Association (HRA). € Born in November 1750, Tipu Sultan was Haidar z HRA was a revolutionary organization of Ali’s son and a great warrior, also known as the India established in 1924 in East Bengal by Tiger of Mysore. revolutionaries like Sachindra Nath Sanyal, € He was a well educated man fluent in Arabic, Narendra Mohan Sen and Pratul Ganguly as Persian, Kanarese and Urdu. an offshoot of Anushilan Samiti. € Mysore had grown in strength under the leadership z Members: Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, of powerful rulers like Haidar Ali (ruled from 1761 Sukhdev, Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh, to 1782) and his famous son Tipu Sultan (ruled Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri. from 1782 to 1799). € Kakori Conspiracy: Most of the fund collection for z Tipu introduced a number of administrative revolutionary activities was done throughrobberies innovations during his rule, including his coinage, of government property. In line with the same, a new Mauludi lunisolar calendar, and a new Kakori Train Robbery near Kakori, Lucknow was land revenue system which initiated thegrowth done in 1925 by HRA. of Mysore silk industry.

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€ Embracing western military methods like artillery € He was also a patron of science and technology and and rockets alongside traditional Indian weapons is credited as the ‘pioneer of rocket technology’ including war elephants, he ensured his forces in India. could overwhelm his Indian rivals and match the Subsidiary Alliance British armies sent against him. ¾ In 1798, it was introduced by Wellesley in India, the ¾ Maintenance of Armed Forces: ruler of the allying Indian state was compelled to € He organised his army on the European model pay a subsidy for the maintenance of British army with Persian words of command. in return for getting protection from the British z Though he took the help of the French officers against their enemies. to train his soldiers, he never allowed them ¾ Those native princes or rulerswho would enter into (French) to develop into a pressure group. the Subsidiary Alliance were not free to declare war € He was well aware of the importance of a naval against any other power or enter into negotiations force. without the consent­ of the British. z In 1796, he set up a Board of Admiralty and ¾ The Subsidiary Alliance was a policy of non- planned for a fleet of 22 battleships and 20 interference in the internal affairs of the allied large frigates. state, but this was a promise seldom kept by the z He established three dockyards at Mangalore, British. Wajedabad and Molidabad. However, his plans ¾ The payment of the arbitrarily-fixed and artificially- did not fructify. bloated subsidy invariably disrupted the economy ¾ Fought Against Marathas: of the state and impoverished its people. € In 1767, Tipu commanded a corps of cavalry against ¾ On the other hand, the British could now maintain the Marathas in the Carnatic (Karnataka) region of a large army at the cost of the Indian states. western India, and he fought against the Marathas € They controlled the defence and foreign relations on several occasions between 1775 and 1779. of the protected ally, and had a powerful force ¾ Role in Anglo-Mysore Wars: stationed at the very heart of his lands. € British saw Haidar and Tipu as ambitious, arrogant ¾ Lord Wellesley signed his first Subsidiary Treaty and dangerous – rulers who had to be controlled with the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798. and crushed. ¾ The Nawab of Avadh was forced to sign a Subsidiary € Four wars were fought with Mysore (1767-69, Treaty in 1801. 1780-84, 1790-92 and 1799). ¾ Peshwa Baji Rao II (Maratha) signed the Subsidiary z 1767-69: Treaty of Madras. Treaty at Bassein in 1802. z 1780-84: Treaty of Mangalore. z He wrote a military manual (Fathul Mujahidin) z 1790-92: Treaty of Seringapatam. explaining the operation of rockets. z 1799: Subsidiary Alliance. € Tipu was a great lover of democracy and a great € Only in the last – the Battle of Seringapatam – did diplomat who gave his support to the French the Company ultimately win a victory.Tipu Sultan soldiers at Seringapatam in setting up a Jacobin was killed defending his capital Seringapatam. Club in 1797. € Mysore was placed under the former ruling z Tipu himself became a member of the Jacobin dynasty of the Wodeyars and a subsidiary alliance Club and allowed himself to be called Citizen was imposed on the state. Tipu. ¾ Other Related Points: z He planted the Tree of Liberty at Seringapatam.

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Highlights z Cloudbursts z Landslide and Flash Floods z Events of Extreme Weather

€ The cloudburst is a natural phenomenon, but Cloudbursts occurs quite unexpectedly, very abruptly, and rather drenching. Why in News ¾ Impact of Climate Change: Recently, cloudbursts have been reported from € Several studies have shown that climate change several places in India. will increase the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts in many cities across the globe. Key Points z In May 2021, the World Meteorological Organi- ¾ About: zation noted that there is about a 40% chance € Cloudbursts are short-duration, intense rainfall of the annual average global temperature tem- events over a small area. porarily reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial in at least one of the next five years. € It is a weather phenomenon with unexpected level precipitation exceeding 100mm/h over a z It added that there is a 90% likelihood of at least geographical region of approximately 20-30 one year between 2021 and 2025 becoming square km. the warmest on record and dislodge 2016 from the top rank. € In the Indian Subcontinent, it generally occurs when a monsoon cloud drifts northwards, from € It is seen that more cloudbursts are happening in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea across the Himalayan region because the decadal temperature plains then on to the Himalaya that sometimes rise in the Himalayan region is higher than the brings 75 millimetres of rain per hour. global rate of rising temperatures. ¾ Occurrence: ¾ Consequences of Cloudbursts: € € The relative humidity and cloud cover is at the Flash floods maximum level with low temperature and slow € Landslides winds because of which a high amount of clouds € Mudflows may get condensed at a very rapid rate and result € Land caving in a cloudburst. ¾ Prediction: € As temperatures increase, the atmosphere can € There is no satisfactory technique for anticipating hold more and more moisture and this moisture the occurrence of cloud bursts because they develop comes down as a short very intense rainfall for a over a small period of time. short durationprobably half an hour or one hour € A very fine net work of radars is required to be resulting in flash floods in the mountainous areas able to detect the likelihood of a cloud burst and and urban floods in the cities. this would be expensive. ¾ Cloudburst are Different from Rainfall: € Only the areas likely to receive heavy rainfall can € Rain is condensed water falling from a cloud while be identified on a short range scale. Much of the cloudburst is a sudden heavy rainstorm. damage can be avoided by way of identifying the € Rain over 100 mm per hour is categorised as a areas and the meteorological situations that favour cloudburst. the occurrence of cloud bursts.

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€ Improper Weather Systems: Events of Extreme Weather z The weather systems (such as air masses, fronts, etc.) keep on moving in a proper way which Why in News helps to maintain the weather conditions in a People around the world have been doubly hit by smoother way. the Covid-19 pandemic and extreme weather events z When the weather conditions come across any which experts say have been fuelled by climate change. disturbance in between, it creates disasters. € Climate Change: Key Points z The world temperature has increased quite high ¾ Recent Extreme Weather Events: from the past few decades and even keeps on € The unprecedented heat wave that drove changing year after year. temperatures across Canada and parts of the z One of the big reasons for the increase in Earth’s

United States to a record high, causing hundreds temperature is the level of CO2. of deaths between June 25 to 30. z As the CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere, € The recent floods in Germany that killed over 180 the temperature of the earth is also increasing people in the country. simultaneously. z Floods have also been reported across several € Global Warming: Asian countries, in China, India and Indonesia. z As the world temperature is increasing due to € Cyclones Tauktae and Yaas that hit India’s west global warming simultaneously the effects of and east coasts respectively. it are also increasing. ¾ Some Causes of Extreme Weather Events: z Global warming is contributing tointensifying € Extreme Temperature: heatwaves. z The temperature of the Earth is rising every z Global warming also boosts the amount of year and increasing temperature and extreme water vapor in the atmosphere which may lead sunshine on top of it creates a low-pressure to causes of severe weather like heavy rainfall, system. heavy snowstorm, etc. z Due to which the hurricanes and other tropical ¾ Concerns: storms get their way to start. € The rise in average global temperature is linked € High Atmospheric Winds: with widespread changes in weather patterns. z The jet stream is found where the cold air from z The rising average global temperature is making Earth’s poles meets with warm tropical air. heavy rainfall more likely. z These winds help to continue and control z Warmer air carries more moisture, meaning the weather system from west to east in the that more water will be released eventually. northern hemisphere and from east to west in € Extreme weather events like heat waves and the southern hemisphere. extreme rainfall are likely to become more frequent z Sometimes these winds bring unpleasant weather or more intense with rising anthropogenic climate with them which may lead to the formation of change. a tornado. z The Theory of Anthropogenic Climate Change € When Pressure Systems Meet: is that humans are causing most of the current z When too cold high-pressure systems meet with changes to climate by burning fossil fuels such too warm low-pressure systems, the chances of as coal, oil, and natural gas. extremely high waves on sea surface increases. € Temperatures at the Earth’s poles are rising at two z The too cold high-pressure systems originate to three times the temperature at the equator. from sub-polar land whereas too warm low- z This weakens the jet stream of the mid-latitudes, pressure systems originate from temperate seas. situated over Europe.

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z During summer and autumn, the weakening of ¾ Causes: the jet stream has a causal effect resulting in € Slope movement occurs when forces acting slower-moving storms. downward (mainly due to gravity) exceed the z This can result in more severe and longer-lasting strength of the earth materials that compose storms with increased intensity. the slope. € Also, according to a study, human-induced € Landslides are caused due to three major factors: global warming has contributed to the increased geology, morphology, and human activity. frequency and intensity of cyclonic storms over € Geology refers to characteristicsof the material. the Arabian Sea. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or ¾ Related Initiatives: different layers may havedifferent strengths and € National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) stiffness. € India’s Intended Nationally Determined € Morphology refers to the structure of the land. Commitments (INDC) under Paris Climate Deal. For example, slopes that lose their vegetation to fire or drought are more vulnerable to landslides. Landslide and Flash Floods z Vegetation holds soil in place, and without the root systems of trees, bushes, and other plants, the land is more likely to slide away. Why in News € Human activity which includes agriculture and Recently, heavy rains caused flash floods and construction increases the risk of a landslide. landslides in many parts of Himachal Pradesh. ¾ Landslide-Prone Areas: Key Points € The entire Himalayan tract, hills/ mountains in sub- Himalayan terrains of North-east India, Western Landslide: Ghats, the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu Konkan areas are ¾ About: landslide-prone. € A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass ¾ Mitigation: of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. € Restriction on the construction and other devel- € They are a type of mass wasting, which denotes opmental activitiessuch as roads and dams in the any downward movement of soil and rock under areas prone to landslides. the direct influence of gravity. € Limiting agriculture to valleys nda areas with € The term landslide encompasses five modes of moderate slopes. slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, € and flows. Control on the development of large settlements in the high vulnerability zones. € Promoting large-scale afforestation programmes and construction of bunds to reduce the flow of water. € Terrace farming should be encouraged in the northeastern hill states where Jhumming (Slash and Burn/Shifting Cultivation) is still prevalent. ¾ Step Taken: € The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has done a national landslide susceptibility mappingfor 85% of the entire 4,20,000 square km landslide-prone area in the country. The areas have been divided into different zones according to the propensity of the disaster.

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z Improvement in early warning systems, moni- € Flash Floods can also occur due to Dam or Levee toring and susceptibility zoning can reduce the Breaks, and/or Mudslides (Debris Flow). damage caused by landslides. € In areas on or near volcanoes, flash floods have Flash Floods: also occurred after eruptions, when glaciers have ¾ About: been melted by the intense heat. € These are sudden surges in water levels generally € The intensity of the rainfall, the location and during or following an intense spell of rain. distribution of the rainfall, the land use and € These are highly localised events of short duration topography, vegetation types and growth/density, with a very high peak and usually have less than soil type, and soil water- content all determine six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall just how quickly the Flash Flooding may occur, and peak flood. and influence where it may occur. ¾ € The flood situation worsens in the presence of Mitigation: choked drainage lines or encroachments obstructing € Instead of valleys, people should live in areas on the natural flow of water. slopes with firm ground for safety reasons. ¾ Causes: € In areas where ground fissures have developed, € It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a appropriate steps should be taken to check the severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, infiltration of rainwater and surface water. or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice € Banning “indiscriminate” and “unscientific” sheets or snowfields. construction works.

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Social Issues

Highlights z Kapu Community Reservation z Kendu Leaf z SMILE Scheme z I-STEM Enters Phase-II z Severe Acute Malnutrition in India z Dying Declaration z Garib Nawaz Employment Scheme z Extension to OBC Sub-Categorisation Commission z Operation Blue Freedom: Team CLAW z Fighting Drug Menace z New Initiatives for Education Sector z National Health Mission z Social Audit of Social Sector Schemes z India Inequality Report 2021: Oxfam z Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, 2021 z Fit for 55 Package: EU z Pneumonia

z A government order was then issued for their Kapu inclusion in ‘Backward Castes’. However, it was Community Reservation not honoured. Other Backward Classes Why in News ¾ Other Backward Classes (OBC) is a collective term Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government has used by the Government of India to classify castes announced 10% reservation for the Kapu community which are educationally or socially disadvantaged. and other Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) for ¾ It is one of several official classifications of the appointments in the initial posts and services in the State population of India, along with General Class, government. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs). ¾ This reservation is extended in accordance with the ¾ The OBCs were found to comprise 52% of the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019. country’s population by the Mandal Commission report of 1980, and were determined to be 41% in Key Points 2006 when the National Sample Survey Organisation ¾ About Kapu Community: took place. ¾ is € The Kapus are primarily an agrarian community National Commission for Backward Classes based in the Andhra-Telangana region. a constitutional body under Article 338B of the Constitution under the Ministry of Social Justice € It is believed that they migrated from the Gangetic and Empowerment. plains, probably from Kampilya (near Ayodhya) thousands of years ago. ¾ Guidelines for EWS Reservation: € They entered what is present-day Telangana and, € Persons who are not covered under the existing after clearing the forests along the banks of the scheme of reservations for SCs, STs and Socially and Godavari, settled down to farming. Educationally Backward Classes and whosegross € The Kapu community is demanding inclusion in annual family income is below Rs 8 lakh are to be the ‘Backward Castes’ category “like they were identified as EWS for the benefit of reservation. before independence”. € The income includes income from all sources i.e. € The first major protest for the inclusion of the salary, agriculture, business, profession etc. for Kapus in the ‘Backward Castes’ was held in 1993. the financial year prior to the year of application.

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€ The term family for this purpose will include the ¾ It includes a subscheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for person who seeks benefit of reservation, his or Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged her parents and siblings below the age of 18 years in Begging’. as also his or her spouse and children below the age of 18 years. Key Points ¾ 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act: ¾ About: € It introduced an economic reservation (10% quota) € It is a new Scheme after the merger of existing in jobs and admissions in education institutes for Schemes for Beggars and Transgenders. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) by amending € Scheme provides for the use of the existing shelter Articles 15 and 16. homes available with the State/UT Governments z It inserted Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6). and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the € It was enacted to promote the welfare of the poor persons engaged in the act of Begging. not covered by the 50% reservation policy for z In case of non-availability of existing shelter SCs, STs and Socially and Educationally Backward homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to be Classes (SEBC). set up by the implementing agencies. € It enables both Centre and the states to provide ¾ Focus: reservation to the EWS of society. € The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabili- ¾ Status of EWS Reservation: tation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, € 10% EWS reservation breaches the 50% limit to basic documentation, education, skill development, reservation in employment opportunities (set economic linkages and so on. by Indra Sawhney case 1992) by the Central Government. € It is estimated that an approximate 60,000 poorest persons would be benefited under this scheme € Government’s stand is that though ordinarily for leading a life of dignity. 50% is the rule but same will not prevent the amendment of the Constitution itself in view of ¾ Implementation: the existing special circumstances to uplift the € It will be implemented with the support of State/ members of the society belonging to economically UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary weaker sections. Organizations, Community Based Organizations € Currently, the matter is in the Supreme Court, (CBOs), institutions and others. where it recently referred the petitions challenging ¾ Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Beggars: rd the 103 Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 to € It will be a comprehensive scheme for persons a five-judge constitution bench, saying it involves engaged in the act of begging. ‘substantial questions of law’. € The scheme has been implemented in the selected € According to Article 145 (3) of the Constitution, at cities on pilot basis having large concentrations of least five judges need to hear cases that involve ‘a the Beggar community. substantial question of law as to the interpretation’ € During the year 2019-20, this Ministry had released of the Constitution, or any reference under Article an amount of Rs. 1 Crore to National Institute of 143, which deals with the power of the President and Rs. 70 Lakh to of India to consult the Supreme Court. Social Defence (NISD) National Backward Classes Finance & Development € The Supreme Court bench consisting of at least Corporation (NBCFDC) for skill development five judges is called the Constitution bench. programmes for beggars. ¾ SMILE Scheme Status of Beggars In India: € According to the Census 2011 ,total number of Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empower- beggars in India is 4,13,670 (including 2,21,673 ment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for males and 1,91,997 females) and the number has Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”. increased from the last census.

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€ West Bengal tops the chart followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and three Severe Acute respectively. Lakshadweep merely has two vagrants Malnutrition in India according to the 2011 census. € Among the union territories, New Delhi had the Why in News largest number of beggars 2,187 followed by 121 in Chandigarh. According to the Women and Child Development Ministry, more than 9.2 lakh children (from six months € Among the northeastern states, Asam topped the to six years) in India were ‘severely acute malnourished’ chart with 22,116 beggars, while Mizoram ranked till November, 2020. low with 53 beggars. ¾ It underscores concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic € Recently, the Supreme Court has agreed to examine could exacerbate the health and nutrition crisis among a plea for decriminalising begging which has been the poorest of the poor. made an offence in various states under Prevention of Begging Act. Key Points National Backward Classes ¾ About Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) : Finance & Development Corporation € WHO’s Definition: The World Health Organisation ¾ NBCFDC is a Government of India Undertaking (WHO) defines ‘severe acute malnutrition’ (SAM) under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and by very low weight-for-height or a mid-upper Empowerment. arm circumference less than 115 mm, or by the presence of nutritional oedema. ¾ It was incorporated under Section 25 of the z Children suffering from SAM are nine times Companies Act 1956 on 13th January 1992 as a more likely to die in case of diseases due to Company not for profit. their weakened immune system. ¾ Its objective is to promote economic and z Nutritional oedema: Abnormal fluid retention developmental activities for the benefit ofBackward in the tissues (oedema) resulting especially Classes and to assist the poorer section of these from lack of protein in states of starvation or classes in skill development and self-employment malnutrition. ventures. „ Oedema can, however, occur in starvation National Institute of Social Defence even if the blood levels of albumin are not ¾ The NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered lowered. under Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government ¾ Related Findings: of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi. € Number of SAM Children (National scenario): An ¾ It is a central advisory body for the Ministry of estimated 9,27,606 ‘severely acute malnourished’ Social Justice and Empowerment. children from six months to six years were identified across the country till November 2020. ¾ It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence. € States with SAM Children: z The ¾ The institute currently focuses on human most in Uttar Pradesh (3,98,359 ) followed by Bihar (2,79,427). resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens, beggary „ Uttar Pradesh and Bihar arealso home to the prevention, transgender and other social defence highest number of children in the country. issues. z Maharashtra (70,665) > Gujarat (45,749) > Chhattisgarh (37,249) > Odisha (15,595) > Tamil ¾ The mandate of the institute is to provide inputs Nadu (12,489) > Jharkhand (12,059) > Andhra for the social defence programmes of the Govern Pradesh (11,201) > Telangana (9,045) > Assam -ment of India through training, research & (7,218) > Karnataka (6,899) > Kerala (6,188) > documentation. Rajasthan (5,732).

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€ States with No Severely Malnourished Children: ¾ Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Launched in 2018, the Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Manipur and mission aims at accelerating the annual rate of eclined Madhya Pradesh reported no severely malnourished of anaemia from one to three percentage points. children. ¾ Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme: It aims to improve ¾ National Family Health Survey Findings: nutritional levels among school children which € The National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4), also has a direct and positive impact on enrolment, 2015-16 suggests that prevalence of severe acute retention and attendance in schools. malnutrition among children was at 7.4%. ¾ The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: It € NFHS-5 suggests that malnutrition increased aims to ensure food and nutrition security for the among children in 2019-20 from 2015-16 in 22 most vulnerables through its associated schemes states and UTs. and programmes, making access to food a legal right. z Stunted: Around 13 states and UTs out of the ¾ Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): 22 surveyed recorded a rise in percentage of Rs.6,000 is transferred directly to the bank accounts children under five years who are stunted in of pregnant women for availing better facilities for comparison to 2015-16. their delivery. „ Stunting is when a child has a low height ¾ Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for their age, usually due to malnutrition, Scheme: It was launched in 1975 and the scheme repeated infections, and/or poor social aims at providing food, preschool education, primary stimulation healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their z Wasted: 12 states and UTs recorded a rise in the percentage of children under five years mothers. who are wasted. Note: „ Wasting is low weight for their height among The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2: Zero hunger) children, reflecting acute undernutrition. aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by It is a strong predictor of mortality among 2030, making sure all people – especially children – have children under five years of age. access to sufficient and nutritious food all year round. z Severely wasted and underweight: 16 states and UTs recorded a rise in the percentage of children under five years who are severely Garib Nawaz wasted and underweight in 2019-20. Employment Scheme ¾ Impact of Covid-19: € Covid-19 is pushing millions into poverty, reducing Why in News incomes of many more and disproportionately Recently, the affecting the economically disadvantaged, who Union Minister for Minority Affairs replied in Parliament that are also most vulnerable to malnutrition and food a total number of 371 training insecurities. centers under the Gharib Nawaz Employment Scheme were opened across the country. € The pandemic-prompted lockdowns disrupted essential services, such as supplementary feeding Key Points under Anganwadi centres, mid-day meals, ¾ immunisation, and micro-nutrient supplementation About Gharib Nawaz Employment Scheme: which exacerbated malnutrition. € It was launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2017. Steps Taken by Government € Maulana Azad Education Foundation, an autono- ¾ POSHAN Abhiyaan: The government of India has mous body under the aegis of Ministry of Minority launched the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) or Affairs, implements the Scheme. POSHAN Abhiyaan to ensure a “Malnutrition Free € The main aim of this scheme is to provide short India” by 2022. term job oriented skill development courses to

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minorities’ youth in order to enable them for skill € Seekho aur Kamao based employment. € Usttad (Upgrading the Skills and Training in € This scheme is implemented as per common Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) norms of the Ministry of Skill Development & € Garib Nawaz Kaushal Vikas Yojana Entrepreneurship (MSD&E) through the empanelled € Nai Manzil (for formal skilling of school dropouts) Program Implementation Agencies (PIAs). € Nai Roshni (for leadership Development of Minority € The PIA is mandated to place minimum 70% Women) trainees out of total trained trainees. € Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls scholarships € The monthly stipend for maximum of three months and post placement support for maximum of two months after getting employment are also being Operation Blue paid to the beneficiaries directly into their account. Freedom: Team CLAW

Minorities Why in News ¾ The term “Minority” is not defined in the Indian Constitution.However, the Constitutionrecognises Recently, the Government of India has accorded only religious and linguistic minorities. sanction to Team CLAW to lead a team of people with disabilities to scale Siachen Glacier and create a new € 6 Minority Communities in India: Jain, Parsi, world record for the largest team of people with Buddhist, Christian, Sikh and Muslim (notified disabilities. by the Government). ¾ This is the land world record expedition, part of ¾ Constitutional Provisions: ‘Operation Blue Freedom Triple World Records’ € Article 29: It provides that any section of the being undertaken. citizens residing in any part of India having a ¾ Triple Elemental World Records is a series of world distinct language, script or culture of its own, records being attempted by the team in 2021 of shall have the right to conserve the same. collectives of people with disabilities achieving great z It grants protection to both religious minorities feats on land, in air and underwater. as well as linguistic minorities. € Article 30: Under the article, all minorities Siachen Glacier shall have the right to establish and administer ¾ The Siachen Glacier is located in the Eastern educational institutions of their choice. Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of Point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between z The protection under Article 30 is confined India and Pakistan ends. only to minorities(religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as ¾ It is the Second-Longest glacier in the World’s under Article 29). Non-Polar areas. € € Article 350-B:The 7th Constitutional (Amendment) Fedchenko Glacier, located in Yazgulem Range, Act 1956 inserted this article which provides Tajikistan is the Longest glacier in the World’s for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities Non-Polar areas. appointed by the President of India. ¾ The Siachen Glacier lies immediately south of the ¾ Legal Provisions: great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively € National Commission for Minorities (NCM) glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called Act, 1992. the “Third Pole”. € National Commission for Minority Education ¾ The Siachen Glacier is part of Ladakh which has now Institution (NCMEI) Act, 200 been converted into a Union Territory. ¾ Other Schemes for Minority Communities: ¾ The Siachen Glacier is the world’s highest battlefield. € Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme ¾ The entire Siachen Glacier has been under the admin- € Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram istration of India since 1984( Operation Meghdoot).

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z Further, their focus is to ‘design and implement sustainable large-scale employment solutions’ for people with disabilities, especially in the ‘Environment conservation and Sustainability’ space. z It was launched in 2019 by Team CLAW.. € CLAW Global: Team CLAW is in the process of setting up centres across the globe where-in Special Forces Veterans and People with Disabilities are merging in action for creating a better life experience, for not only persons with disability but the non-disabled as well.

New Initiatives Key Points for Education Sector ¾ About the Expedition: € Initially, a team of20 people with disabilities would Why in News be selected to undergo training, after which the Recently, the Prime Minister launched multiple final expedition team shall be selected. initiatives in the education sector at a conference, to z Final expedition team (including a minimum of mark the completion of one year of reforms under the 6 people with disabilities), who will trek from National Education Policy 2020 which aims at making the Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post. India a global knowledge superpower. z Kumar post is located at an altitude of about ¾ The Prime Minister also noted the role played by portals 15,632 feet. like Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing ¾ Team CLAW and Operation Blue Freedom: (DIKSHA) and Study Webs of Active Learning for € Team CLAW: Team CLAW (Conquer Land Air Water) Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) in online education is a team of ex-Indian Special Forces commandos. during the pandemic. z Generally, all are either from Indian Army Para Commandos or the Naval Marine Commandos, Key Points also known as the MARCOS. ¾ Academic Bank of Credit: z These veterans have multiple specialisations - € It is envisaged as a digital bank that holds the credit not just in combat but also in other elite skills earned by a student in any course. It is a major such as skydiving, scuba diving, mountaineering, instrument for facilitating multidisciplinary and emergency medical response and all-terrain holistic education. It will provide multiple entry survival amongst others. and exit options for students in Higher education. z The initiative was taken by Major Vivek Jacob, € It will make the youth future-oriented and open a Para (Special Forces) officer. the way for an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-driven € Operation Blue Freedom: Operation Blue Freedom economy. is a social impact venture aimed at rehabilitating ¾ Engineering in Regional Languages: people with disabilities through adaptive adventure € 14 engineering colleges in eight States are going to sports. start engineering studies in five Indian languages: z It aims to shatter the common perception Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bangla. of pity, charity and inability associated with z This emphasis on mother tongue as the medium people with disabilities and recreate it to one of instruction will instil confidence in the stu- of dignity, freedom and ability. dents from poor, rural and tribal backgrounds.

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z In a recent survey, the All India Council of z NISHTHA is the largest teachers’ training Technical Education (AICTE) discovered that 42% programme, first of its kind in the world to of the students surveyed nationally, favoured motivate and equip teachers to encourage and pursuing Engineering in regional languages. foster critical thinking in students. € The AICTE is creating a database of resources ¾ Sign Language as a Subject: to allow colleges to offer more programmes € Indian sign language, for the first time, has been in regional languages and developed a tool to accorded the status of language subject. Students translate engineering content into 11 languages. will be able to study it as a language also. ¾ Vidya Pravesh & SAFAL: € There are more than 3 lakh students who need € Vidya Pravesh, a three month play based school sign language for their education. This will give a preparation module for Grade 1students will be boost to Indian sign language and will help the released along with SAFAL (Structured Assessment divyang people. For Analyzing Learning Levels), a competency based assessment framework for Grades 3, 5 and Related Previous Initiatives 8 in CBSE schools. ¾ National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. ¾ National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR): ¾ Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). € It will help in building up a new education ¾ Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF). ecosystem that will create a digital foundation ¾ Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research leading to self-governance of all parties involved, Collaboration (SPARC). particularly states and the Centre. ¾ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. € It lets educationists do evaluation based on talents ¾ and abilities, helping students understand their NEAT. area of specialties that can be utilised in their ¾ PRAGYATA. future profession. ¾ Mid Day Meal Scheme. ¾ National Education Technology Forum (NETF): ¾ Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009. € It will provide independent evidence-based advice ¾ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. to central and state government agencies on technology-based interventions. A special focus will be on improving technology access at the Social Audit of grassroot education level. Social Sector Schemes z Schools will be required to have skilled professionals. In addition, schools will have Why in News to hire qualified candidates to teach emerging technological skills to students. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme, namely Information-Monitoring, € Once the forum is set up, school-wise information will be sought on how technology is being used Evaluation and Social Audit (I-MESA) in FY 2021-22. for imparting academic content and what steps Key Points are being taken to enhance research. ¾ € It will be funded by the government but at a later About the I-MESA Scheme: stage, private funding and support from industry € Under this scheme, Social Audits are to be conducted bodies would be invited. for all the schemes of the Department starting FY ¾ NISHTHA 2.0: 2021-22. € It will provide training to teachers as per their needs € These social audits are done through Social Audit and they will be able to give their suggestions to Units (SAU) of the States and National Institute the department. It will have 68 modules including for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. 12 generic and 56 subject-specific modules and ¾ Important Schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice will cover around 10 lakh teachers. and Empowerment:

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€ Schemes for Economic Development: ¾ Challenges: z Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for the € The lack of adequate administrative and political Scheduled Castes (SCs) will in institutionalising social audits to deter z National Safai Karamcharis Finance and corruption has meant that social audits in many Development Corporation (NSKFDC) parts of the country are not independent of the influence of implementing agencies. z National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) € Social audit units, including village social audit z Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste facilitators, continue to face resistance and Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) intimidation and find it difficult to even access primary records for verification. z Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) € People’s participation has been minuscule due to the lack of education, awareness and capacity € Self Employment: building among the common masses. z Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers € There is an absence of an independent agency to (SRMS) investigate and act on social audit findings. z Venture Capital Fund For Scheduled Castes ¾ Suggestions: € Schemes for Social Empowerment: € Citizens groups need tocampaign for strengthening z Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation social audits and make real progress in holding of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the political executive and implementing agencies the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes accountable. (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 € Team of social audit experts should be established z Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) in each district who are responsible for training Social Audit social audit committee members (stakeholders). € Training programmes should be created on ¾ About: social auditing methods such as conducting and € Meaning: Social Audit is the audit of a scheme preparing social audit reports, and presentation jointly by the Government and the people, at Gram Sabha. especially by those who are affected by the scheme € The system of social audits needs a synergetic or its beneficiaries. endorsement and a push by multiple authorities € Benefits: It is a powerful tool to promote to establish an institutionalised framework which transparency, accountability and people’s cannot be undermined by any vested interests. participation in the schemes meant for them. z A social audit helps to narrow gaps between vision/goal and reality, between efficiency Juvenile Justice and effectiveness. Amendment Bill, 2021 € Status: z Mahatma Gandhi National National Rural Why in News Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was the first Act to mandate Social Audit by the Recently, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Gram Sabha of all the projects taken up in the of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021, was passed in the Gram Panchayat. Rajya Sabha. ¾ The bill seeks to amend the z Most States have set up an independent Social Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Audit Unit (SAU) and some have even begun Key Points to facilitate Social Audit in other programmes, including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, National ¾ Background: Social Assistance Programme, Midday Meal € The National Commission for Protection of Child Scheme and Public Distribution System. Rights (NCPCR) audit of Child Care Institutions

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(CCIs) in 2020, 90% of which are run by NGOs, € Child Welfare Committees (CWCs): It provides found that 39% CCIs were not registered, even that a person will not eligible to be a member of after the 2015 amendment was brought in. the CWC if he/she € It also found that less than 20% CCIs, especially z has any record of violation of human rights or for girls, had not been set up in some states, 26% child rights, child welfare officers were not there. z has been convicted of an offence involving € Moreover, three-fifths have no toilets, one-tenth moral turpitude, have no drinking water and 15% of homes don’t z has been removed or dismissed from service of have provisions for separate beds or diet plans. the central government, or any state government, € Rehabilitation of children is not a priority for or a government undertaking, childcare homes and children are reportedly kept z is part of the management of a child care in such institutions to get funds. institution in a district. ¾ Key Amendments Proposed by the Bill: € Removal of Members: The appointment of any € Serious Offences: Serious offences will also member of the committeeshall be terminated by include offences for whichmaximum punishment the state government after an inquiry if they fail to is imprisonment of more than seven years, and attend the proceedings of the CWCs consecutively minimum punishment is not prescribed or is of for three months without any valid reason or if less than seven years. they fail to attend less than three-fourths of the sittings in a year. z Serious offences are those for which the punishment under the Indian Penal Code or any ¾ Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children), other law for the time being is imprisonment Act, 2015: between three and seven years. € Parliament introduced and passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act in € Non-cognizable Offences: 2015 to replace the Juvenile Delinquency Law z The present Act provides that an offence which and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of is punishable with imprisonment between three Children Act) 2000. to seven years to be cognizable (where arrest € The Act is allowed without warrant) and non-bailable. offered provisions to allow trials of juveniles in the age group of 16-18 years as an „ The Bill amends this to provide that such adult who were found to be in conflict with the offences will be non-cognizable. law, especially heinous crimes. € Adoption:Presently, the adoption order issued by € The Act also offered provisions regarding adoption. the court establishes that the child belongs to the The Act replaced the Hindu Adoptions and adoptive parents. The Bill provides that instead Maintenance Act (1956) and Guardians of the of the court, the District Magistrate (including ward Act (1890) with more universally accessible Additional District Magistrate) will issue such adoption law. adoption orders. € The Act enabled smooth functioning ofadoption € Appeals: The Bill provides that any person procedures for orphans, surrendered, and aggrieved by an adoption order passed by the abandoned children while making the Central District Magistrate may file an appeal before the Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) the statutory Divisional Commissioner, within 30 days from the body for adoption-related matters. date of passage of such order. € Additional Functions of the District Magistrate: These include: supervising the District Child Pneumonia Protection Unit, and conducting a quarterly review of the functioning of the Child Welfare Committee. Why in News € Designated Court: The Bill proposes that all offences Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the earlier Act be tried in children’s court. reported that Pneumonia contributes 16.9% of infant

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deaths and it is the 2nd highest cause of infant mortality contributes to around 15% of deaths of children (after prematurity & low birth weight). under the age of five annually. ¾ In November 2020, the annual Pneumonia and z The government aims to achieve a target of Diarrhoea Progress Report was released by the reducing pneumonia deaths among children to International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC). less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025. € In 2014, India launched ‘Integrated Action Plan Key Points for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and ¾ About: Diarrhoea (IAPPD)’ to undertake collaborative € Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the efforts towards prevention of diarrhoea and lungs. It is also a Pneumococcal disease caused Pneumonia related under-five deaths. by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or z The WHO and UNICEF had launched an pneumococcus. integrated Global Action Plan for Pneumonia ¾ Cause: and Diarrhoea (GAPPD). € It doesn’t have one single cause – it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air. Kendu Leaf ¾ Vulnerability: € Children whose immune systems are immature Why in News (i.e. newborns) or weakened – such as by Recently, several children were seen collecting kendu undernourishment, or diseases like HIV – are more (Tendu) leaves in Odisha’s Kalahandi district. vulnerable to pneumonia. ¾ Spread: Key Points € Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread ¾ About: through coughing or sneezing. It can also be € Kendu leaf is called the green gold of Odisha. It is spread through fluids, like blood during childbirth, a nationalised product likebamboo and sal seed. or from contaminated surfaces. It is one of the most important non-wood forest ¾ Vaccine: products in Odisha. € Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable z Botanical name of the Tendu (Kendu) leaf is . 3 doses of the primary vaccine with vaccines Diospyros Melanoxylon. (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to prevent € The leaves are used to wrap bidis, a popular smoke it are recommended. among the locals. € A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of ¾ States Producing Kendu Leaves: pneumonia is under development. € The states producing bidi leaves in India comprises z India has introduced nationwide rollout of PCV mainly Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and ¾ Diseases Burden: Maharashtra. € Global: Together, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan account for more than half of all deaths due to pneumonia among children under 5. € Annually, India witnesses an estimated 71% of pneumonia deaths and 57% of severe pneumonia cases. ¾ Initiatives Related to Pneumonia: € Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS): The aim is to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, which

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z Odisha is the third-largest producer of kendu z Children below 14 years can not be engaged as leaf, after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. workers and between 14-18 years can only be ¾ Uniqueness: engaged in non hazardous sectors. € The Uniqueness of Odisha’s Tendu (kendu) leaf is z In such a scenario they are exploited. in processed form whereas the rest of the states in India produce in Phal Form. I-STEM Enters Phase-II z In processed form the Kendu leafs are graded into different qualities that areGrade I to Grade Why in News IV as per the specification ofcolor, texture, size The Indian Science Technology and Engineering and body condition of the leafand packets will facilities Map (I-STEM) project has been accorded an be done by taking Five Kilograms as a Bundle. extension for five years, until 2026 and enters itssecond ¾ Significance: phase with added features. € Medicament: Key Points z Traditional medical practitioners use these tiny fruits of Kendu to treat malaria, diarrhoea and ¾ I-STEM: dysentery. € About: z Due to their antimicrobial properties, the leaves z I-STEM is a National Web portal for sharing are applied on cuts and bruises as well. R&D (Research and Development) facilities. € Source of Livelihood: z The portal facilitates researchers to access slots for the use of equipment, as well as to share z Kendu leaves are the major source for tribal the details of the outcomes, such as, patents, villages, since it is the most prominent Minor publications and technologies. Forest Produce of the state. € Launch: „ MFP includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, z Launched in January 2020. It is an initiative of fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins Office of thePrincipal Scientific Adviser to the and many forms of food including nuts, wild Government of India under the aegis of Prime fruits, honey, lac, tusser etc. Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) mission. „ They form a major portion of their food, fruits, „ medicines and other consumption items PM-STIAC: It is an overarching Council that facilitates the Principal Scientific Adviser’s and also provide cash income through sales. Office to assess the status in specific science € Major Part in Odisha’s Forest Revenue: and technology domains, comprehend z Of Odisha’s total forest revenue of Rs 868 million challenges in hand, formulate specific in 1990-2000, kendu leaves alone account for interventions, develop a futuristic roadmap Rs 635 million. and advise the Prime Minister accordingly. z The annual production of bidi leaf in Odisha is around 4.5-5 lakh a quintal, which is about 20% of the county’s annual production. ¾ Concern: € Low Wage: z Children working at kendu leaf collection centres often step in during April-May every year. They mostly engaged in plucking, drying, collecting, etc. They are paid extremely low wages for the work. € Exploitation of Children:

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€ Goal: ¾ About: z The goal of I-STEM is to strengthen the R&D € Section-32(1) of Indian Evidence Act,1872, defines ecosystem of the country by connecting dying declaration as astatement written or verbal researchers with resources. of relevant facts made by a person, who is dead. z Promoting technologies and scientific equipment It is the statement of a person who had died development indigenously, and providing explaining the circumstances of his death. necessary supplies and support to researchers z This is based on the maxim ‘nemo mariturus by enabling them an access to existing publicly presumuntur mentri’ i.e. a man will not meet funded R&D facilities in the country through his maker with a lie on his mouth. the I-STEM web portal. € The general rule under Section 60 of the Act is € Phase-I: that all oral evidence must be direct - he heard z In the first phase, the portal is listed with more it, saw it or perceived it. than 20,000 pieces of equipment from 1050 ¾ Rules for Admission of Dying Declaration: institutions across the country and has more € The grounds of admission under a dying declaration than 20,000 Indian researchers. have been based on two broad rules: ¾ Phase-II: z The victim being generally the only principal € The portal will host indigenous technology products eye-witness to the crime. listed through a digital catalogue. It will also host z The sense of impending death, which creates and provide access to selected R&D (Research and a sanction equal to the obligation of an oath Development) software required to undertake in a court. research projects by students and scientists. ¾ Recording Dying Declaration: € The portal will also provide a platform for the € Anyone can record the dying declaration of the various City Knowledge and Innovation Clusters deceased as per law. However, a dying declaration to enhance effective use of R&D infrastructure recorded by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate will through leveraging collaboration and partnership add an additional strength to the prosecution case. built on a shared STI (Science Technology and z A dying declaration may in several cases be ecosystem. Innovation) the “primary piece of evidence to prove the € New phase will be designed as a dynamic digital genesis of occurrence”. platform that will provide aboost to research and € The only requirement for such a declaration to be s innovation especially for 2 tier and 3 tier citie held perfectly accountable in court is for the victim to and also for the emerging start-up ecosystem. volunteer the statement and be of conscious mind. z The person who records the dying declaration Dying Declaration must be satisfied that the victim is in a fit state of mind. Why in News ¾ Situations Where Court Does Not Accept it as a Evidence: Recently, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court awarded two policemen life sentences for the € Though a dying declaration is entitled to great custodial death of a murder accused on the basis of the weight, the accused has no power of cross- ‘Dying Declaration’made by the victim prior to his death. examination. ¾ CBI is the premier investigating police agency in z This is the reason the courts have always insisted India. It functions under the superintendence of the that the dying declaration be of such a nature Deptt. of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension as to inspire full confidence of the court in its & Public Grievances - which falls under the prime correctness. minister’s office. € The courts are on guard to check if the statement of the deceased was a result of either tutoring, Key Points prompting or a product of imagination.

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¾ Need of Corroboration (Supporting Evidence): or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of € Several judgments have noted that it is neither OBCs and classifying them into their respective rule of law nor of prudence that dying declaration sub-categories. cannot be acted upon without corroboration. ¾ Commission: z If the court is satisfied that the dying declaration € Also called Rohini Commission , constituted under is true and voluntary it can base conviction on Article 340 of the Constitution with the approval it, without corroboration. of the President on 2nd October 2017. € Where a dying declaration issuspicious , it should € It had been constituted to complete the task of not be acted upon without corroborative evidence sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central because a dying declaration does not contain the OBC list so as to ensure more equitable distribution details as to the occurrence. of opportunities in central government jobs and z It is not to be rejected, equally merely because educational institutions. it is a brief statement. On the contrary, the € In 2015, the National Commission for Backward shortness of the statement itself guarantees Classes (NCBC) had recommended that OBCs should truth. be categorised into extremely backward classes, ¾ Validity of Medical Opinion: more backward classes and backward classes. € Normally the court, in order to satisfy whether the z NCBC has the authority to examine complaints deceased was in a fit mental condition to make the and welfare measures regarding socially and dying declaration, can look up themedical opinion. educationally backward classes. ¾ € But where the eye witness has said that the Work Done: deceased was in a fit and conscious state to € It has met representatives of state governments, make this dying declaration, themedical opinion state backward classes commissions, community cannot prevail. associations etc. apart fromobtaining caste-wise data of OBCs in higher educational institutions and recruits in central departments, public sector Extension to OBC Sub- banks and financial institutions. Categorisation Commission € Earlier this year the commission proposed to divide OBCs into four subcategories numbered Why in News 1, 2, 3 and 4 and split the 27% into 2, 6, 9 and 10%, respectively. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a six-month € It also recommended complete digitisation of all to the commission appointed to examine extension sub- OBC records and a standardised system of issuing categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), up to OBC certificates. 31st January 2022. ¾ Possible Outcomes: ¾ This is the eleventh extension for the commission, € The commission may make recommendations which was initially due to submit its report in March which will benefit the communities in the existing 2018. list of OBCs which have not been able to get any Key Points major benefit of the OBCs reservation scheme for appointment in central government posts and ¾ About: for admission in central government educational € It will enable the Commission to submit a compre- institutions. hensive report on the issue of sub-categorization of OBCs, after consultation with various stakeholders. Article 340 of the Indian Constitution ¾ € Its objectives include working out a mechanism, The President may by order appoint a Commission criteria, norm and parameters through a scientific consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate approach for sub-categorisation within the OBCs the conditions of socially and educationally and identifying the respective castes or communities backward classes within the territory of India and

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the difficulties under which they labour and to make Key Points recommendations as to the steps that should be ¾ Drug Menace In India: taken by the Union or any State to remove such € The menace of drug addiction has spread fast difficulties. among the youth of India. ¾ A Commission so appointed shall investigate € India is sandwiched between two largest Opium the matters referred to them and present to the producing regions of the world that is the Golden President a report setting out the facts as found triangle on one side and the Golden crescent by them and making such recommendations as on other. they think proper. ¾ The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament. OBC Reservation ¾ The Kalelkar Commission, set up in 1953, was the first to identify backward classes other than the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level. ¾ The Mandal Commission Report, 1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward. z The golden triangle area comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. € It recommended increasing the existing quotas, which were only for SC/ST, from 22.5% to 49.5% z The golden crescent area includes Pakistan, to include the OBCs. Afghanistan and Iran. ¾ The central government reserved 27% of seats in € According to the World Drug Report 2021, union civil posts and services for OBCs [Article 16(4)]. prescription drugs and their ingredients or The quotas were subsequently enforced in central ‘precursors’ are being increasingly diverted for –the government educational institutions [Article 15 (4)]. recreational use in India largest manufacturer of generic drugs in the world. € In 2008, the Supreme Court directed the central z India is also linked to shipment of drugs sold government to exclude the creamy layer on the 19 major darknet markets analysed (advanced sections) among the OBCs. over 2011-2020. ¾ The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 € As per the report Magnitude of Substance Use in provided constitutional status to the National India released by All India Institute Of Medical Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which Science (AIIMS) in 2019: was previously a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. z Around 5 crore Indians reported to have used cannabis and opioids at the time of the survey (conducted in the year 2018). Fighting Drug Menace z It has been estimated that there areabout 8.5 lakh people who inject drugs. Why in News z Of the total cases estimated by the report, more India has signed 26 bilateral pacts, 15 memoranda than half of them are contributed by states of understanding and two agreements on security like Punjab, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Manipur, cooperation with different countriesfor combating illicit Mizoram, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh. trafficking of narcotic,drugs and psychotropic substances, z About 60 lakh people are estimated to need besides chemical precursors. help for their opioid use problems.

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¾ Various Steps taken: € The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances € Coordination with Various International Act, (NDPS) 1985: Organisations: z It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, z The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinated selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/ with various international organisations for or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic sharing information and intelligence to combat substance. transnational drug trafficking. z The NDPS Act has since been amended thrice z They included the SAARC, BRICS, Colombo – in 1988, 2001 and 2014. ANPlan, ASE , BIMSTEC, United Nations Office z The Act extends to the whole of India and on Drugs and Crime, and the International it applies also to all Indian citizens outside Narcotics Control Board. India and to all persons on ships and aircraft € Coordination among Various Central and State registered in India. Agencies: € ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or Drug-Free India Campaign: z For this, the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) z It focuses on community outreach programs. mechanism was set up by the Ministry of Home ¾ International Treaties and Conventions to Combat Affairs (MHA) in 2016 for effective drug law Drug Menace: enforcement. € India is signatory of the following International „ This NCORD system was restructured into a treaties and conventions to combat the menace four-tier scheme up to district level in July of Drug Abuse: 2019, for better coordination. z United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic z A Joint Coordination Committee with the NCB Drugs (1961) Director General as its chairman was set up in July 2019, to monitor the investigation into z UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances cases involving large seizures. (1971). € SIMS (Seizure Information Management System) z UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Portal: Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) z For digitisation of pan-India drug seizure data, z UN Convention against Transnational Organized the MHA launched an e-portal called ‘SIMS’ in Crime (UNTOC) 2000 2019 for all the drug law enforcement agencies under the mandate of Narcotics Drugs and National Health Mission Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). € National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse: Why in News z It was constituted to meet the expenditure incurred in connection with combating illicit Recently, the Union Minister of State for Health and traffic in Narcotic Drugs; rehabilitating addicts, Family Welfare informed the Rajya Sabha that National and educating the public against drug abuse, etc. Health Mission (NHM) supported health system reforms € National Drug Abuse Survey: have resulted in development of resilient health systems. z The government is also conducting the Survey to Key Points measure trends of drug abuse in India through the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment ¾ About: with the help of National Drug Dependence € NHM was launched by the government of India in Treatment Centre of AIIMS. 2013 subsuming the National Rural Health Mission € Project Sunrise: (Launched in 2005) and the National Urban Health z It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Mission (Launched in 2013). Family Welfare in 2016, to tackle the rising HIV € The main programmatic components includeHealth prevalence in north-eastern states in India, System Strengthening in rural and urban areas especially among people injecting drugs. for - Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and

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Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable € Ayushman Bharat. and Non-Communicable Diseases. € Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). € The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health Achievements of NHM care services that are accountable and responsive ¾ Improvement in Health Indicators: to people’s needs. € In the 15 years of implementation, the NHM has enabled achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for health. z The MDGs have been superseded by the Sustainable Development Goals. € It has also led to significant improvements in maternal, new-born, and child health indicators, particularly for maternal mortality ratio, infant and under five mortality rates, wherein the rates of decline in India are much higher than the global averages and these declines have accelerated during the period of implementation of NHM. ¾ Growth in Public Health Facilities: ¾ Support to States & Union Territories (UT): € NHM adopts a health system approach and targets € Health Facilities: to build a network for public health facilities with Health & Wellness Centres at the grassroot level z NHM support is provided to States/ UTs for and District Hospitals, with robust referral linkage, setting up of new facilities as per norms and to offer Comprehensive primary and secondary upgradation of existing facilities for bridging the care services to citizens. infrastructure gaps based on the requirement posed by them. € NHM has not only contributed to increase in the institutional capacities for service delivery but also € Health Services: has led to development of capacities for targeted z NHM support is also provided for provision of interventions of the various National Programmes a range of free services related to maternal under the NHM. health, child health, adolescent health, family ¾ Equitable Development: planning, universal immunisation programme, € There was also a sustained focus on the health of and for major diseases such as Tuberculosis, tribal populations, those in vector borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue Left Wing Extremism areas, and the urban poor. and Kala Azar, Leprosy etc. € A more recent effort at ensuring equity in access ¾ Major Initiatives Supported Under NHM: and use, is the Aspirational district initiative, in € Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK). which 115 districts across 28 states, with weak € Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). social and human development indicators have € Implementation ofFree Drugs and Free Diagnostics been identified for allocation of additional resources Service Initiatives. and capacity enhancement to catch up with more € PM National Dialysis Programme. progressive districts. € Implementation of National Quality Assurance ¾ National Ambulance Services: Framework in all public health facilities. € At the time of launch of NRHM (2005), ambulance € Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) & Tele-consultation networks were non-existent. services are also being implemented to improve € So far, 20,990 Emergency Response Service Vehicles access to healthcare particularly in rural areas. are operational under NRHM.

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€ Besides 5,499 patient transport vehicles are also Key Points deployed, particularly for providing “free pickup ¾ About the Report: and drop back” facilities to pregnant women and sick infants. € It provides a comprehensive analysis of the health outcomes across different socioeconomic groups ¾ Human Resource Augmentation: to gauge the level of health inequality that persists € NHM supports states for engaging service delivery in the country. HR such as doctors, nurses and health workers and € The findings are primarily based on secondary also implements the world’s largest community analysis from rounds 3 and 4 of the National health volunteer programme through the Family Health Survey and various rounds of the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). National Sample Survey. z More than 10 lakhs ASHAs and ASHA facilitators ¾ : are engaged under NHM. Finding of the Report € Performance of Different Groups: The general € NHM has also supported states to acquire staff with skills in public health, finance, planning and category performs better than SCs and STs; Hindus management to plan and implement interventions, perform better than Muslims; the rich perform freeing up clinical staff to deliver health services. better than the poor; men are better off than women; and the urban population is better off than ¾ Health Sector Reforms: the rural population on various health indicators. € NHM enabled the design and implementation z The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated of reforms specifically related to Governance , these inequalities. Procurement and Technology. € The ¾ Addressing high Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): Performance of States: states that have for the past few years been reducing inequalities, € Recognising the need for reducing the current such as inequalities to access to health between high levels of OOPE, and that, almost 70% of the the general category and SC and ST populations, OOPE is on account of drugs and diagnostics, the have less confirmed cases of Covid – such as Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Services Initiatives Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. have been implemented under the NHM. z On the other hand, states that have had higher € The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) GDP expenditure on health, such as Assam, and the Essential Diagnostics Lists have been Bihar and Goa, have notified and are periodically updated to include higher recovery rates of more essential drugs based on new initiatives Covid cases. undertaken. z Kerala invested in infrastructure to create a multi-layered health system, designed to provide first-contact access for basic services India Inequality at the community level and expanded primary Report 2021: Oxfam healthcare coverage to achieve access to a range of preventive and curative services. Why in News € Rural-Urban Divide: It was highlighted during the The report titled “India Inequality Report 2021: second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when India’s Unequal Healthcare Story” released by Oxfam rural areas witnessed a shortage of tests, oxygen India shows that the socio-economic inequalities seep and hospital beds. into the health sector and disproportionately affect health € Doctor-person Ratio: The National Health Profile in outcomes of marginalised communities due to the 2017 recorded one government allopathic doctor absence of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). for every 10,189 people and one state-run hospital ¾ The report suggested that the states which are for every 90,343 people. attempting to reduce existing inequalities and with € Hospital Beds: The investment in public health higher expenditure on health had lower confirmed infrastructure is so little that the number of beds cases of Covid-19. in the country has actually come down, from

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9 beds per 10,000 persons in the 2010 Human z IMR for Adivasis is 44.4 which is 40% more than Development Report, to only 5 beds per 10,000 the general category and 10% more than the persons today. national average. z India also ranks the lowest in the number of hospital beds per thousand population among Recommendations the BRICS nationsat 0.5. It is lower than lesser ¾ The right to health should be enacted as a fundamental developed countries such as Bangladesh (0.87), right that makes it obligatory for the government Chile (2.11) and Mexico (0.98). to ensure equal access to timely, acceptable, and € Women Literacy: While women’s literacy has affordable healthcare of appropriate quality and improved across social groups over the years, SC address the underlying determinants of health to and ST women lag behind the general category close the gap in health outcomes between the rich by 18.6% and 27.9%, respectively. and poor. z There exists a gap of 55.1% between the top ¾ The free vaccine policy should adopt an inclusive and bottom 20% of the population in 2015-16. model to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their z Though the female literacy rate among Muslims gender, caste, religion or location i.e. people living in (64.3%) is lower than all religious groups, hard-to-reach areas, gets the vaccine without any delay. inequality has reduced over time. ¾ Increase health spending to 2.5 percent of Gross € Sanitation: As far as sanitation is concerned, 65.7% Domestic Product (GDP) to ensure a more equitable households have access to improved, non-shared health system in the country; ensure that union sanitation facilities in the general category while budgetary allocation in health for SCs and STs is SC households are 28.5% behind them and ST are proportionate to their population. 39.8% behind them. ¾ Regions with higher concentration of marginalised z While 93.4% of households in the top 20% population should be identified and public health have access to improved sanitation, only 6% facilities should be established, equipped and made have access in the bottom 20 % — a difference fully functional as per the Indian Public Health of 87.4%. Standards (IPHS). € Immunisation: The immunisation in ST households ¾ Widen the ambit of insurance schemes to include at 55.8% is still 6.2% below the national average, out-patient care. The major expenditures on health and Muslims have the lowest rate across all socio- happen through out-patient costs as consultations, religious groups at 55.4%. diagnostic tests, medicines, etc. z The rate of immunisation of girls continues to ¾ Institutionalize a centrally-sponsored scheme that be below that of the male child. earmarks funds for the provision of free essential z More than 50% of children still do not receive drugs and diagnostics at all public health facilities. food supplements in the country. ¾ Regulate the private health sector by ensuring € Life Expectancy: Life expectancy based on wealth that all state governments adopt and effectively is 65.1 years for the bottom 20% of the households, implement Clinical Establishments Act or equivalent while it is 72.7 years for the top 20%. state legislation. € Antenatal Care: Percentage of mothers who have ¾ Extend the price capping policy introduced during received full antenatal care declined from 37% in the Covid-19 pandemic to include diagnostics and 2005-06 to 21% in 2015-16. non-Covid treatment in order to prevent exorbitant z The share of institutional deliveries in India has charging by private hospitals and reduce catastrophic increased from 38.7% in 2005-06 to 78.9% in out-of-pocket health expenditure. 2015-16. ¾ Augment and strengthen human resources and € Infant Mortality Rate: Overall improvement in infrastructure in the healthcare system by regularising Infant mortality rate (IMR) is not equal across services of women frontline health workers. social groups. Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs have ¾ Establishing contingency plans for scenarios such as higher IMR as compared to the general category. the second wave of the pandemic.

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¾ Inter-sectoral coordination for public health should z Climate neutrality is achieved when a country’s be boosted to address issues of water and sanitation, emissions are balanced by absorptions and literacy, etc. that contribute to health conditions. removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. It is also expressed as a state of Conclusion net-zero emissions. ¾ To stabilise and equalise this inequality, universal € It claims to achieve a balance between “regulatory health coverage should be supported strongly by policies” and market-based carbon pricing to the public sector. avoid the pitfalls of each. ¾ Persistent underfunding of the public health system, ¾ Major Proposals: especially primary health care and inadequate health € Renewable Sources: infrastructure in India remain to be addressed by the z It proposes to government even after devastating second wave. increase the binding target of Otherwise, health emergencies will only aggravate renewable sources in the EU’s energy mix to existing inequalities and work as a detriment for the 40%(from 32% earlier) and improve energy poor and the marginalised. efficiency by 36% (from 32.5% earlier) by 2030. € Vehicular Carbon Emissions: Fit for 55 Package: EU z It must be cut by 55% by 2030 and by 100% by 2035, which means a phaseout of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. Why in News z It also includes some provisions that benefit Recently, the European Union (EU) released a new the auto industry. Public funds will be used to climate proposal, the Fit for 55 package. help build charging stations every 60 kilometers, ¾ The EU in December 2020 submitted a revised on major highways, a move that will encourage Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under sales of electric cars. the Paris Agreement. z It will also help finance a network ofhydrogen Key Points fueling stations. € Emissions Trading System: ¾ Aim: z It calls for the creation of anEmissions Trading € The new package attempts to deliver the NDC System (ETS) for buildings and road transport, and carbon neutrality goal through proposed separate from the EU’s current ETS, to become changes that would impact the economy, society operational from 2026. and industry, as well as ensure a fair, competitive and green transition by 2030 and beyond. „ ETS are market-based instruments that create incentives to reduce emissions where these are most cost-effective. € Social Climate Fund: z To help low-income citizens and small businesses adjust to the new ETS, the EU proposes the creation of a Social Climate Fund, which will take various forms ranging from funding for renovation of buildings, and access to low carbon transport, to direct income support. z They expect to build up this fund using 25% of revenues from the new ETS. The current ETS is proposed to extend to the maritime sector between 2023 and 2025. € Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism:

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z Among other market-based mechanisms, the € But the transition will also be painful for some EU is proposing a carbon-border adjustment consumers and companies, raising the cost of mechanism, which will put a price on imports a wide variety of goods and services, like video from places that have carbon-intensive monitors imported from China, for example, or production processes. a vacation flight to a Greek island or even a full tank of gasoline. z This instrument has been deemed to have a small impact on global carbon dioxide emissions by z Companies that make products destined for the United Nations Conference on Trade and obsolescence, like parts for internal combustion Development, and could instead have negative engines, must adapt or go out of business. impacts on developing countries. € The proposals could reshape polluting industries like steelmaking, which directly employs 330,000 € Enhance Sink Capacity: people in the EU. z It has set a target to enhance the EU’s sink

capacity to 310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, India’s INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030 which it hopes will be achieved through specific ¾ To reduce the emissions intensity of the Gross national targets by member countries. Domestic Product by about a third. ¾ Analysis: ¾ A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity € The EU’s NDC target is to reduce greenhouse gas will be from non-fossil fuel sources. emissions by 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. It ¾ India also promised an additional carbon sink has also set a long-term goal of achieving carbon (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the neutrality by 2050. atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon z The EU’s target is more aggressive than that of dioxide equivalent through additional forest and the US, which committed to reduce emissions by tree cover by the year 2030. 40% to 43% over the same period, but behind Indian Initiatives to Fight Climate Change: Britain, which pledged a 68% reduction. ¾ National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) z China, the world’s largest emitter, has only said ¾ Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms it aims for emissions to peak by 2030. ¾ UJALA scheme € Fit for 55 Package could put Europe at the forefront ¾ National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) of new technologies like electric car batteries, ¾ Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure offshore wind generation or aircraft engines that ¾ run on hydrogen. International Solar Alliance

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Highlights z Kanjeevaram Silk Sari: Tamil Nadu z India’s 39th World Heritage Site: Ramappa Temple z India’s 40th World Heritage Site: Dholavira z Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day

z One can spot motifs such as the mythical Kanjeevaram creature called the Yali (an elephant-lion Silk Sari: Tamil Nadu fusion), the GandaBerunda (a two-headed majestic mythical bird) and the ubiquitous temple border called reku. Why in News € Tracing its long and rich history from the Chola National award winning artisan weaver, B Krishna- Dynasty, Kanchipuram sarees today are considered moorthy, has created a repository with samples of all as one of the oldest and rich legacies of the Indian the designs, patterns and motifs traditional to Kanjee- textile industry. varam silk sari weaving, preserving fine pieces for next generation. € Kanchipuram silk has also received Geographical indication (GI Tag) in 2005-06. Key Points ¾ Other GI tagged Sarees: ¾ About Kanjeevaram Sarees: € Tamil Nadu: Kandangi Saree, Thirubuvanam silk Traditonally, the Kanjeevaram is a sari that is sarees, Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees € usually handwoven in mulberry silk and has pure € Uttar Pradesh:Banaras Brocade gold or silver zari that renders it a festive quality. € Karnataka: Ilkal Saree, Molakalmuru Saree z Handloom silk saree is identified as the most € Andhra Pradesh: Uppada Jamdani Sarees, luxurious and classy fabric in Indian traditional Venkatagiri Sarees, Mangalagiri Saree clothing. € Kerala: Balaramapuram Sarees, Kasaragod Sarees, € Originating from the village ‘Kanchipuram’ in Kuthampully Sarees Tamil Nadu, Kanjeevaram is considered the queen € Telangana: Gadwal Saree, Pochampally Ikat (logo) of silk sarees. € Madhya Pradesh: Chanderi Saree, Maheshwar € The temple architecture of south India and especially around Kanchipuram has historically Sarees served as a mood board for design inspiration for € Odisha: Orissa Ikat, Bomkai Saree, Habaspuri Saree the traditional Kanjeevaram motifs. € West Bengal: Santipore Saree, Baluchari Saree, Dhaniakhali Saree € Maharashtra: Paithani Sarees and Fabrics, Karvath Kati Sarees and Fabrics € Chhattisgarh: Champa Silk Saree € Gujarat: Surat Zari Craft,Patola Saree. ¾ Silk Production in India: € India is the second largest producer of silk in the world, producing around 18% of the world’s total silk.

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€ There are five major types of silk of commercial and Western India. It was basically an urban importance, obtained from different species of civilization and the people lived in well-planned silkworms. These are Mulberry, Oak Tasar & and well-built towns, which were also the Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri. centers for trade. z Except mulberry, other non-mulberry varieties € The site contains ruins of an ancient IVC/Harappan of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks. city. It comprises two parts: a walled city and a € India has the unique distinction of producing all cemetery to the west of the city. these commercial varieties of silk. z The walled city consists of a fortified Castle € South India is the leading silk producing area of with attached fortified Bailey and Ceremonial the country and is also known for its famous silk Ground, and a fortified MiddleTown and a weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Lower Town. Arni, etc. z A series of reservoirs are found to the east and € The Government of India in 2017 launched a south of the Citadel. scheme called “Silk Samagra” for the development of sericulture in the country.

India’s 40th World Heritage Site: Dholavira

Why in News Recently, UNESCO has announced the Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th world heritage site. It is the first site of Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to be included on the coveted list. ¾ With this successful nomination, India now enters the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions. ¾ Apart from India, Italy, Spain, Germany, China and ¾ Location: France have 40 or more World Heritage sites. € The ancient city of Dholavira is an archaeological site ¾ India has 40 world heritage sites overall, which at Kachchh District, in the state of Gujarat, which includes 32 cultural, 7 natural and one mixed property. dates from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE. th Ramappa Temple (Telangana) was India’s 39 World € Dholavira’s location is on the Tropic of Cancer. Heritage Site. € It is located on Khadir bet island in the Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Key Points Kachchh. ¾ About Dholavira: € Unlike other Harappan antecedent towns normally € It is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved located near to rivers and perennial sources of urban settlements in South Asia. water, the location of Dholavira in the island of € It was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Khadir bet. Pati Joshi. z This was strategic to harness different mineral € After Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala and Harappa and raw material sources (copper, shell, agate- in Pakistan and Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India, carnelian, steatite, lead, banded limestone, Dholavira is the fifth largest metropolis of Indus among others). Valley Civilization (IVC). z It also facilitated internal as well as external z IVC flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western trade to the Magan (modern Oman peninsula) part of South Asia, what today is Pakistan and Mesopotamian regions.

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¾ Archeological Findings: € Further, the Great Rann of Kutch, which surrounds € Artifacts that were found here include terracotta the Khadir island on which Dholavira is located, pottery, beads, gold and copper ornaments, seals, used to be navigable, but the sea receded gradually fish hooks, animal figurines, tools, urns, and some and the Rann became a mudflat. imported vessels. Other Harappan Sites in Gujarat z Remains of a copper smelter indicate Harappans, ¾ Lothal: Before Dholavira was excavated, Lothal, who lived in Dholavira, knew metallurgy. in Saragwala village on the bank of Sabarmati in z It is believed that traders of Dholavira used to Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district, was the most source copper ore from present-day Rajasthan prominent site of IVC in Gujarat. and Oman and UAE and exported finished € It was excavated between 1955 and 1960 and products. was discovered to be an important port city of z It was also a hub of manufacturing jewellery the ancient civilisation, with structures made made of shells and semi-precious stones, like of mud bricks. agate and used to export timber. € From a graveyard in Lothal, 21 human skeletons € 10 large stone inscriptions, carved in Indus Valley were found. script, perhaps the world’s earliest sign board. € Foundries for making copperware were also € Near the ancient city is a fossil park where wood discovered. fossils are preserved. € Ornaments made of semi-precious stones, gold € Unlike graves at other IVC sites, no mortal remains etc. were also found from the site. of humans have been discovered at Dholavira. ¾ Rangpur on the bank of Bhadar river in Surendranagar ¾ Distinct Features of the Dholavira Site: district was the first Harappan site in the state to be excavated. € Cascading series of water reservoirs. ¾ Rojdi in Rajkot district, Prabhas near Veraval in Gir € Outer fortification. Somnath district. € Two multi-purpose grounds, one of which was ¾ and used for festivities and other as a marketplace. Lakhabaval in Jamnagar, Deshalpar in Bhuj taluka of Kutch are among other Harappan sites € with unique designs. Nine gates in the state. € Funerary architecture featuring tumulus — hemispherical structures like the Buddhist Stupas. Other World Sites in Gujarat ¾ Other than Dholavira, there are 3 UNESCO World € Multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial Heritage Sites in Gujarat. structures. € Historic city of Ahmedabad ¾ Decline of Dholavira: € Rani ki Vav, Patan € Its decline also coincided with the collapse of € Champaner & Pavagadh Mesopotamia, indicating the integration of economies. India’s 39th World Heritage z Harappans, who were maritime people, lost a huge market, affecting the local mining, Site: Ramappa Temple manufacturing, marketing and export businesses once Mesopotamia fell. Why in News € Dholavira entered a phase of severe aridity Recently, Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the due to climate change and rivers like Saraswati Ramappa Temple) at Mulugu district, Telangana has drying up. been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. z Due to a drought-like situation, people started ¾ Ramappa Temple was proposed by the government as migrating toward the Ganges valleyor towards its only nomination for theUNESCO World Heritage south Gujarat and further beyond in Maharashtra. site tag for the year 2019.

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€ The sandbox in the foundation acts as a cushion in case of earthquakes. € Most of the vibrations caused by earthquakes lose their strength while passing through the sand by the time they reach the actual foundation of the building.

Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day

Key Points Why in News ¾ About Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple: Recently, India in partnership with International € The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrated Asadha Poornima during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire by Recherla Dhamma Chakra Day 2021 on 24th July 2021. Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. ¾ The day is also observed as Guru Poornima by both € The presiding deity here is RamalingeswaraSwamy. Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to € It is also known as the Ramappa temple, after the their Gurus. sculptor who executed the work in the temple for 40 years. Guru Purnima ¾ According to the Hindu calendar, Guru Purnima € The temple stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned generally falls on a full-moon day in the Hindu with intricate carvings that attest to the unique month of Ashadh. skill of the Kakatiya sculptors. ¾ It is dedicated to Maharshi Veda Vyasa, the sage who is believed to have edited the sacred Hindu text, the € The foundation is built with the “sandbox , technique”, the flooring is granite and the pillars Vedas and created the 18 Puranas Mahabharata are basalt. and the Srimad Bhagavatam. ¾ For Buddhists, the festival marks the first sermon of € The lower part of the temple is red sandstone Lord Buddha, which is said to have been delivered while the white gopuram is built with light bricks at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, on this very day. that reportedly float on water. ¾ It is also believed to mark the onset of monsoons. € An inscription dates the temple to1135 Samvat-Saka th on the eight-day of Magha (12 January, 1214). Key Points € The distinct style of Kakatiyas for the gateways to temple complexes, unique only to this region, ¾ About: confirm thehighly evolved proportions of aesthetics € It commemorates Buddha’s first sermon to his in temple and town gateways in South India. first five ascetic disciples. He gave his first know- € European merchants and travellers were mesmerized ledge to the world after attaining enlighten- by the beauty of the temple and one such traveller ment. had remarked that the temple was the “brightest star € The day marks the establishment of the Sangha, in the galaxy of medieval temples of the Deccan”. on a full-moon day of the month of Asadha, in the ¾ Sandbox Technique: Indian Sun calendar at the ‘Deer Park’, Ṛṣipatana in the current day Sarnath, near Varanasi, India. € The technique involved filling the pit — dug up for laying the foundation — with a mixture of z It is also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and sand-lime, jaggery (for binding) and karakkaya Asanha Bucha in Thailand. (black myrobalan fruit) before the buildings were z It is the second most sacred day for Buddhists constructed on these ‘sandboxes’. after the Buddha Poornima or Vesak.

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€ This teaching of Dhamma Chakka- PavattanaSutta € Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of (Pali) or Dharma chakra Pravartana Sutra (Sanskrit) Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. is also known as the First Turning of Wheels of € He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagara, Dharma and comprises the Four Noble Truths and Uttar Pradesh. The event is known as Mahapa- Noble Eightfold Path. rinibban or Mahaparinirvana. z Four Noble Truths: ¾ Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture: „ Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world. € The concept of ahimsa was its chief contribution. „ Every suffering has a cause – Samudya. Later, it became one of the cherished values of „ Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha. our nation. „ It can be achieved by following the Atthanga € Its contribution to the art and architecture of India Magga (Eightfold Path). was notable. The stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut, and z Eightfold Path: Gaya are wonderful pieces of architecture. € It promoted education through residential universities like those at Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramasila. € The language of Pali and other local languages developed through the teachings of Buddhism. € It had also promoted the spread of Indian culture to other parts of Asia. ¾ Buddhism’s Relevance in Covid-19: € Buddha’s teaching is relevant today when humanity faces the Covid-19 pandemic as the biggest challenge before it. Buddha’s principles bind countries together, strengthening humanity. € Today, the nations of the world are also holding € The Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa) for the each other’s hands and helping each other in the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day lasting for times of pandemic, following the path of service three lunar months from July to October, during to humanity as shown by Buddha. which they remain in a single place, generally in € Buddha’s their temples (Viharas/ Chaityas) dedicated to four noble truths and eightfold path can intensive meditation. help understand the doctrine of Karma and can help in healing the world and make it a better place. ¾ Gautam Buddha: ¾ UNESCO’s Heritage Sites Related to Buddhism: € He is believed to be the eighth of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu(Dashavatar). € Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar € He was born as Siddhartha Gautama in circa 563 BCE, in Lumbini and belonged to the Sakya clan. € Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, MP € Gautam attainedBodhi (enlightenment) under a € Maha Bodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar pipal tree at Bodhgaya, Bihar. € Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

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Highlights z Exercise Cutlass Express z National Security Council z Akash-NG & MPATGM: DRDO z Exercise INDRA-21

¾ In June 2021 a new generation nuclear capable ballistic Exercise Cutlass Express missile Agni-P (Prime) was successfully test-fired by the DRDO. Why in News ¾ In February 2021 India also successfully test-fired indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile Recently, Indian Naval Ship Talwar participated in systems ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’. a multinational training exercise Cutlass Express 2021, being conducted along the East Coast of Africa. Key Points Key Points ¾ Akash Missile (Akash-NG): ¾ About Exercise Cutlass Express: € About: z It is a . It is a € The exercise is an annual maritime exercise surface-to-air Missile new variant conducted to promote national and regional of the Akash missile that can strike targets at and fly at a maritime security in East Africa and the Western a distance of around 60 km speed Indian Ocean. of up to Mach 2.5. z Once deployed, the Akash-NG weapon system € The 2021 edition of the exercise involves partic- will prove to be a force multiplier for the air ipation of 12 Eastern African countries, US, UK, defence capability of the Indian Air Force. India and various international organisations € The exercise is designed to assess and improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security and increase interoperability between the regional navies. € India’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) is also participating in the exercise. z India’s participation is in accordance with India’s stated policy towards maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region and vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Akash-NG & MPATGM: DRDO € Development & Production: Why in News z Developed by Defence Research & Development Recently, the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad in collaboration Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested theNew with other DRDO laboratories. Generation Akash Missile (Akash-NG) and the Man z It is being produced by Bharat Electronics Limited Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

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€ Akash Missile: Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme z Akash is India’s first indigenously produced ¾ It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable medium range Surface to Air missile that can India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile engage multiple targets from multiple directions. technology. It was approved by the Government „ The missile is unique in the way that it can be of India in 1983 and completed in March 2012. launched from mobile platformslike battle ¾ The 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under this tanks or wheeled trucks. It has nearly 90% program are: kill probability. € Prithvi: Short range surface to surface ballistic „ The missile is supported by the indigenously missile. developed radar called ‘Rajendra’. € Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e. „ The missile is reportedly cheaper and more Agni (1,2,3,4,5) accurate than US’ Patriot missiles due to its € Trishul: Short range low level surface to air missile. solid-fuel technology and high-tech radars. € Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile. z It can engage targets at a speed 2.5 times € kash: Medium range surface to air missile. more than the speed of sound and can detect A and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes. National Security Council z The Akash missile system has been designed and developed as part of India’s 30-year-old Why in News Integrated Guided-Missile Development Amid the Pegasus Controversy, it was reported that Programme (IGMDP). the Union Government’s expenditure on the National ¾ Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile: Security Council secretariat (NSCS) increased ten fold € It is an indigenously-developed anti-tank guided in 2017-18 to Rs 333 crores from Rs 33 cr. in 2016-17. missile. z Anti Tank guided missileis a medium or long- Key Points range missile whose primary purpose is to ¾ About: destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles. € NSC of India is a three-tiered organization that € It is a low weight, fire and forget missile. It is oversees political, economic, energy and security incorporated with state-of-the-art Miniaturized issues of strategic concern. Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced € The National Security Advisor (NSA) presides avionics. over the NSC, and is also the primary advisor to € It is launched using a tripod designed for a the prime minister. The current National Security maximum range of 2.5 km with a launch weight Advisor is Ajit Doval. of less than 15 Kg. ¾ Formation: € Its successful test marked a major boost for the € It was formed in 1999, where all aspects of national government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign and security are deliberated upon. would strengthen the Indian Army. ¾ Three tier Structure: € NSC comprises the three tier structure- Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat. € The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of the relevant inputs. € The NSAB undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives on issues of national security.

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¾ Function: Key Points € It operates within the executive office of the prime ¾ About Exercise INDRA: minister of India, liaising between the government’s € The exercise will entail conduct of counter terror executive branch and the intelligence services, operations under the United Nations mandate by advising leadership on intelligence and security a joint force against international terror groups. issues. € The INDRA series of exercises began in 2003 and was ¾ Members: conducted as a bilateral naval exercise alternately € The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External between the two countries. However, the first Affairs and Finance are its members. joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017. € The last joint, tri-services exercise between India Exercise INDRA-21 and Russia was conducted in India in December 2019. It was held simultaneously at Babina (near Why in News Jhansi), Pune, and Goa. The 12th Edition ofIndo-Russia joint military Exercise Joint Military Exercise of India with Other Countries INDRA will be held at Volgograd, Russia in August 2021. Name of Exercise Country Garuda Shakti Indonesia Ekuverin Maldives Hand-in-Hand China Kurukshetra Singapore Mitra Shakti Sri Lanka Nomadic Elephant Mongolia Shakti France Surya Kiran Nepal Yudh Abhyas USA

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Highlights z World Youth Skills Day z Dragon Fruit z UNESCO Delists Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status z Monkey B Virus z The Gaon Buras z Kargil Vijay Diwas

€ Respondents to a survey of the TVET, which was World Youth Skills Day jointly collected by UNESCO, the ILO and the World Bank, revealed that distance learning was the Why in News most common way of imparting skills. € Youth employment fell 8.7% last year, compared Every year, 15th July is observed as the World Youth with 3.7% for adults. Skills Day. ¾ Announcement by India: ¾ It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2014. € The Prime Minister announced the 75 newly sanctioned Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JJSs) and Key Points also launched a portal made specifically for JSS. ¾ About: z JSSs aim to provide vocational training to non-literates, neo-literates as well as school € Aim: dropouts in rural areas, by identifying skills that z To equip young people around the world with might be relevant to the market of that region. essential skills for employment, work, and € Curriculum was launched of 57 new courses aligned entrepreneurship. with industry demand. z To achieve the Incheon Declaration: Education 2030, “which devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, UNESCO Delists Liverpool specifically regarding access to affordable quality of Its World Heritage Status technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.’’ Why in News „ This vision is fully captured by Sustainable Development Goal-4, which aims to “Ensure Recently, the city of Liverpool, England has been inclusive and equitable quality education removed from UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, and promote lifelong learning opportunities Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of world heritage for all”. sites. ¾ Earlier six Indian places were added to the tentative z To eliminate gender disparity. list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. € Theme for 2021: z ‘Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic’. Key Points ¾ State of Youth Employment and Schools during ¾ Liverpool: Covid-19: € The port city was included in the prestigious list € According to the estimates of UNESCO, schools for its architectural beauty and in recognition of were shut down for over 30 weeks in 50% of the its role as one of the world’s most important ports countries between March 2020 and May 2021. during the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Programme’, administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. € It seeks to encourage the identification, protec- tion and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. € This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. z It provides a framework for international cooperation in preserving and protecting cultural treasures and natural areas throughout the world. ¾ Types: € Cultural heritage sites include historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting. € Natural heritage sites are restricted to natural areas. € It was named a World Heritage Site in 2004, joining € Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, natural and cultural significance the Taj Mahal, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. ¾ Sites in India: z The city is only the third place to be removed from the prestigious list. € India has 38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and ¾ Reasons for Delisting: 1 mixed site. The latest one included is Jaipur € The new buildings including a football stadium city, Rajasthan. undermine the attractiveness of its Victorian docks and were destroying the heritage value of its waterfront. The Gaon Buras € The over development would irreversibly damage the heritage of the historic port. Why in News ¾ Other Delisted Sites: Recently, the Assam Cabinet announced that Gaon € Wildlife sanctuary in Oman in 2007. Buras, village-level functionaries of the district adminis- z Reason: poaching and habitat loss. tration, will be called ‘Gaon Pradhans’. € Dresden Elbe valley in Germany in 2009. ¾ The government has reasoned that a number of z Reason: A four-lane motorway bridge was built young men (and women) become Gaon Buras, and over the river. thus, the word ‘Bura’ (meaning old in Assamese) is no longer appropriate. World Heritage Site ¾ About: Key Points € A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed ¾ About: by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical € Gaon Buras are the village headmen. They are significance. The list of World Heritage Sites is the eyes, nose, ear of the district administration maintained by the international ‘World Heritage at the village level.

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€ There are about 6,000 Gaon Buras in Assam. throughout the world. In India, it is also known Women ‘Gaon Buras’ are not very common and as ‘Kamalam’. they take over, if their husbands die. € Climatic Condition: ¾ A brief History: z It is hardy and grows in diverse climatic € It belongs to the colonial era, when the British conditions with varied soils, especially in the appointed the oldest person in the village as the semi-arid and arid regions of India. head, who would oversee matters relating to land z It prefers slightly acidic soil and can tolerate and revenue in a particular area. some salts in soil too. € Post-independence, the government continued z Flowering and fruiting of dragon fruitscoincide with the institution and made the Gaon Bura a with the monsoon season in India (June to Nov.). formal part of the Assam Revenue and Disaster € Features: Management department, increasing his re- z Its flowers are hermaphrodites (male and sponsibilities, and eventually introducing a small female organs in the same flower) in nature honorarium for the role. and open at night. € In Arunachal Pradesh, too, the Gaon Buras (and Buris) z The plant sustains yield for more than 20 years, are the most important village-level functionaries. is high in nutraceutical properties (having ¾ Duties: medicinal effects) and good for value-added processing industries. € Maintaining a population register of the village, z It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. maintaining land records, helping police investigate crime, etc. ¾ Popularity in India: € The dragon fruit was € It involves now maintaining a log of Covid-19 cases introduced to home gardens in the village, organising vaccination camps, func- in India in the 1990s. tioning as booth-level officers during elections etc. € The low maintenance and high profitability of dragon fruits has attracted the farming community € To issue a ‘Gaon Bura certificate’, a certificate throughout India. that determines the permanent residency in a particular village. € This has led to a steep increase in dragon fruit cultivation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra z It became crucial during the National Register of Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Citizens (NRC) for women to establish linkages Odisha, Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar with their husbands and parents. Islands, as well as in many north eastern states. € The country produces approximately 12,000 Dragon Fruit tonnes of the fruit every year. ¾ Related Issues: Why In News € High Investment: Dragon fruit is a climber that needs support and hence farmers need to invest In June 2021, India exported its first consignment of around Rs. 3.5 lakh per acre in infrastructure. dragon fruit from a farmer of Maharashtra to Dubai in z Drip irrigation also adds cost to the initial the United Arab Emirates. investment. Key Points € Issues in Flowering: Generally, sunburn is a common problem in semi-arid and arid tracts and it can be ¾ About: managed by providing 25-30% shade either by € Introduction: planting shade-providing trees (such as moringa, z The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is sesbania and Melia dubia) or installing artificial indigenous to the Americas. It is a member of shade nets during the harsh summer months. the cacti family. ¾ Government Initiatives: z It is also known as ‘Pitaya’, ‘Pitahaya’, strawberry € The Government of Maharashtra has taken the pear, noblewoman and queen of the night initiative to promote dragon fruit cultivation in

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different areas of the state by providing good € In the later stage, the virus can lead to the loss of quality planting material and subsidies for its muscle coordination and neurological damage. cultivation through the Mission on Integrated ¾ Treatment: Development of Horticulture (MIDH). € Currently, there are no vaccines that can protect € MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the against B virus infection. holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering € Timely antiviral medications could help in reducing fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, the risk to life. spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. z The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kargil Vijay Diwas is implementing MIDH with effect from 2014-15. Why in News Monkey B Virus The 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on the 26th of July 2021. Why in News ¾ The day is dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the Recently, China has reported the first human infection Kargil war. case with Monkey B virus (BV). Key Points Key Points ¾ About: ¾ About: € After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, there had been many € Monkey B virus is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic military conflicts. Both the countries conducted (endemic) in macaques and it was initiallyisolated nuclear tests in 1998 which further escalated in 1932. tensions and finally the Kargil War in 1999. z Alphaherpesviruses are pathogens or neuroin- € Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was vasive viruses that establish lifelong infections fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil in the peripheral nervous system of humans (now a district in the UT of Ladakh) district of and many other vertebrates. Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control € B virus is also commonly referred to as herpes B, (LoC) in which India got the victory. herpesvirus simiae, and herpesvirus B. ¾ Operation Vijay: € B virus can survive for hours on surfaces, particularly € In the year 1999, India and Pakistan signed the when moist. Lahore Agreement to mutually resolve the Kashmir ¾ Transmission: issue in a peaceful manner. € The infection can be transmitted via direct contact € However, the Pakistani troops began infiltrating and exchange of bodily secretions of monkeys toward Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) and has a fatality rate of 70% to 80%. under Operation Badr, hoping to cut off Indian € Human-to-human Transmission: Till date, only one Troops in Siachen. Indian Army responded by case has been documented of an infected person launching Operation Vijay. spreading B virus to another person. € On 3rd May 1999, Pakistan started this war when it ¾ Symptoms: had infiltrated into the high altitudes in the rocky € The first indications of B virus infection are typically mountainous region of Kargil with around 5000 flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, muscle soldiers and captured it. ache, fatigue and headache, following which an € When the Indian Government got the information infected person may develop small blisters in the about it, ‘Operation Vijay’ was launched by the wound or area on the body that came in contact Indian army to throw back the intruders who had with the monkey. treacherously occupied Indian Territory.

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